PETALS FALL FOR THE LOST LIVES
Petals fall for the lost lives
BY MICHAEL McHUGH
A SPECIAL international ceremony took place in Omagh yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1998 Real IRA car bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
During a ceremony marking the anniversary, rose petals were scattered on Market Street where the bomb exploded. A crystal memorial obelisk and a "garden of light" with 31 mirrors symbolising the light from 31 lost lives were also unveiled.
Attendees included Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Irish President Mary McAleese, the Duchess of Abercorn and some of the families of those dead or injured.
Others stayed away in a row over the wording of a new memorial to those killed in the atrocity.
During the event, former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite said that in "a flawed and broken world, complete justice is hardly ever experienced".
There were representatives from Buncrana in the Irish Republic, where three of the dead came from, and from Spain. Prayers were said by ministers from the main churches.
US vice-counsel Susan Elliott, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Alliance leader David Ford, Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy and representatives from the Northern Ireland and Irish police forces were also present.
Before the service, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said: "The events of August 15, 1998 will forever be indelibly marked in the minds and hearts of all decent people."
Families have voiced concern about alleged police failure to act quickly enough, on intelligence warnings about bomb. And flaws in forensic aspects of the investigation were highlighted in the trial of Sean Hoey, of South Armagh, who was acquitted of related charges.
Nobody has been convicted of causing the deaths.
BY MICHAEL McHUGH
A SPECIAL international ceremony took place in Omagh yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1998 Real IRA car bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
During a ceremony marking the anniversary, rose petals were scattered on Market Street where the bomb exploded. A crystal memorial obelisk and a "garden of light" with 31 mirrors symbolising the light from 31 lost lives were also unveiled.
Attendees included Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Irish President Mary McAleese, the Duchess of Abercorn and some of the families of those dead or injured.
Others stayed away in a row over the wording of a new memorial to those killed in the atrocity.
During the event, former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite said that in "a flawed and broken world, complete justice is hardly ever experienced".
There were representatives from Buncrana in the Irish Republic, where three of the dead came from, and from Spain. Prayers were said by ministers from the main churches.
US vice-counsel Susan Elliott, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Alliance leader David Ford, Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy and representatives from the Northern Ireland and Irish police forces were also present.
Before the service, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said: "The events of August 15, 1998 will forever be indelibly marked in the minds and hearts of all decent people."
Families have voiced concern about alleged police failure to act quickly enough, on intelligence warnings about bomb. And flaws in forensic aspects of the investigation were highlighted in the trial of Sean Hoey, of South Armagh, who was acquitted of related charges.
Nobody has been convicted of causing the deaths.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL10An/17
Published Date: 16-Aug-08
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