MITCHELL PRAISES OMAGH VICTIMS
Mitchell praises Omagh victims
THE man who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement yesterday praised the courage of two people injured in the Omagh bombing and said they could show the way forward for the rest of Northern Ireland.
After making a speech at the University of Liverpool, where he was given an honorary law degree, Senator George Mitchell talked about his experiences after the Omagh atrocity last August 15 which killed 29 and left hundreds injured.
Earlier he had delivered the university's Institute of Irish Studies annual peace lecture in which he spoke about his four-year role as chairman of the talks aimed at healing divides in Ulster. He said that two people in particular of those he met after the bombing could show the way forward for the rest of the population. One of those was Claire Gallagher.
"She was the 15-year-old lively, aspiring pianist who lost both eyes in that bombing. As we spoke, she sat with two large patches where her eyes used to be. She was an example of courage and grace."
The second person he met that he clearly remembered was Michael Monaghan, who lost his wife, daughter and his wife's mother in the atrocity, three generations of his family.
Senator Mitchell said: "He was left with three children under the age of five. One of them, Patrick, asks him every day, 'When is mum coming home?'.
"Both Claire and Michael urged that the peace process must move forward.
"I pray that they will give hope and resolve to the political leaders of Northern Ireland because it is they who will make this work."
He recalled the words of Tony Blair during the final hours of negotiation when the Prime Minister said that he felt the hand of history on his shoulders.
Senator Mitchell said the hand of history is still there on the shoulders of all the political leaders of Northern Ireland.
He added: "The decision this week to approve the structure of the new executive is a huge step in the right direction."
THE man who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement yesterday praised the courage of two people injured in the Omagh bombing and said they could show the way forward for the rest of Northern Ireland.
After making a speech at the University of Liverpool, where he was given an honorary law degree, Senator George Mitchell talked about his experiences after the Omagh atrocity last August 15 which killed 29 and left hundreds injured.
Earlier he had delivered the university's Institute of Irish Studies annual peace lecture in which he spoke about his four-year role as chairman of the talks aimed at healing divides in Ulster. He said that two people in particular of those he met after the bombing could show the way forward for the rest of the population. One of those was Claire Gallagher.
"She was the 15-year-old lively, aspiring pianist who lost both eyes in that bombing. As we spoke, she sat with two large patches where her eyes used to be. She was an example of courage and grace."
The second person he met that he clearly remembered was Michael Monaghan, who lost his wife, daughter and his wife's mother in the atrocity, three generations of his family.
Senator Mitchell said: "He was left with three children under the age of five. One of them, Patrick, asks him every day, 'When is mum coming home?'.
"Both Claire and Michael urged that the peace process must move forward.
"I pray that they will give hope and resolve to the political leaders of Northern Ireland because it is they who will make this work."
He recalled the words of Tony Blair during the final hours of negotiation when the Prime Minister said that he felt the hand of history on his shoulders.
Senator Mitchell said the hand of history is still there on the shoulders of all the political leaders of Northern Ireland.
He added: "The decision this week to approve the structure of the new executive is a huge step in the right direction."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/201
Published Date: 19-Feb-99
Related Images
