HARDSHIP AS VICTIMS AWAIT COMPENSATION
Hardship as victims await compensation
By ANNE PALMER
DISTRESSED victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity are still suffering financial hardship because compensation has not been paid - three years after the outrage.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Victims Support and Self-Help Group, who lost his son Aidan in the atrocity, said there was deep dissatisfaction with many of the compensation awards and how they were dealt with by the compensation agency.
"We shouldn't have to fight for compensation, the lack of it and the efficiency of the system," Mr Gallagher said, adding that he had noticed how farmers in south Armagh were to be compensated the full market and quota value for animals lost through the foot-and-mouth crisis, by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and compared it to the NIO's evaluation of people.
"They actually treat animals better," he said.
He was also critical of the system whereby injured people who needed money were offered small sums, but were too embarrassed to challenge the offer.
"There was supposed to be a fast track to help for the Omagh bomb victims," he said.
One injured party said she just wanted to see the whole issue of compensation cleared up, so that she could get on with living the rest of her life.
Although some victims are of the opinion that the Northern Ireland Office has held up the process, there is evidence to suggest that some solicitors acting on their behalf have not supplied all the necessary paperwork to the NIO.
Traffic warden Rosemary Ingram was on duty, when she was caught up in the Market Street bomb on August 15,1998.
Mrs Ingram is now medically retired from her job as traffic warden line-manager. She suffered shrapnel injuries to her legs and back and still hears ringing in her ears, all of which have rendered her with 65 per cent disability.
"I hate complaining, I don't want to complain," said Mrs Ingram.
" But I feel that the Northern Ireland Office is not treating the injured the way they said they would treat them after the bomb," she said.
As the third anniversary of the bomb approaches, she is still awaiting compensation for her injuries.
She said she had relayed all of the necessary medical reports to her Omagh-based solicitor, but added that no date had been fixed, as yet, for a hearing.
Her fear is that she will be unable to get on with her life if the issue continues to drag on.
"It is about time the Northern Ireland Office did something to let us all get on with our lives," she added.
For 20 years, the Omagh woman worked as a traffic warden, and when she was offered promotion as a supervisor, she thought she would be financially secure.
Mrs Ingram recalled that the only reason she was out on the street that fateful Saturday, was because the office had been short staffed.
Training for evacuation, in the event of a bomb alert, had not been given, the former traffic warden revealed.
"All the training I ever had was on how to direct traffic and how to issue parking tickets," she added.
Some of Mrs Ingram's frustration at the lack of movement on compensation was born of a perception that a three-year limit would be applied to her claim.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said this was incorrect and that claims for compensation had to be made within three years of the date of the injury.
He said he could not comment on any individual case, but said that each case was treated on its own merits.
It is understood, however, that in compensation claims for severe injury, medical evidence is collected over a longer period of time. Ultimately, it takes a longer time to process those claims.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ingram's solicitor said that he was not in a position to comment on any individual cases. He confirmed that he is aware that, in some cases, there were issues, which had to be clarified, and matters which were outstanding. He said it was not appropriate to blame anyone for the situation.
However, the Northern Ireland Office said that they could not proceed with the cases until the relevant information had been received.
Omagh man Billy Jameson is also waiting for compensation. His wife Ursula, badly injured in the Omagh bombing, along with their son William, is still waiting for settlement.
Mr Jameson said the bomb had destroyed their careers.
"What I saw that day, no man should ever have to see," he said.
"My wife was in hospital for five weeks and the wee fellow was in for two weeks. William was in a wheelchair for three months, because he couldn't put pressure on his foot," he said.
Mr Jameson revealed that he had been in touch with the compensation agency, once a month, for over a year, but nothing had been settled.
He said all of the necessary paperwork had been with the NIO Compensation Agency since June last year.
An interim payment had been offered, but Mr Jameson had been reluctant to take it, as he feared the issue would then drag on.
"I'm just fed up with them now," he said. "I think it is time they had a wake-up call."
It is understood that only one forensic accountant is employed by the NIO to deal with compensation cases. It is a department that deals with a massive workload covering claims for minor and serious injuries.
A source revealed that there was uncertainty within the department over its future direction.
By ANNE PALMER
DISTRESSED victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity are still suffering financial hardship because compensation has not been paid - three years after the outrage.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Victims Support and Self-Help Group, who lost his son Aidan in the atrocity, said there was deep dissatisfaction with many of the compensation awards and how they were dealt with by the compensation agency.
"We shouldn't have to fight for compensation, the lack of it and the efficiency of the system," Mr Gallagher said, adding that he had noticed how farmers in south Armagh were to be compensated the full market and quota value for animals lost through the foot-and-mouth crisis, by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and compared it to the NIO's evaluation of people.
"They actually treat animals better," he said.
He was also critical of the system whereby injured people who needed money were offered small sums, but were too embarrassed to challenge the offer.
"There was supposed to be a fast track to help for the Omagh bomb victims," he said.
One injured party said she just wanted to see the whole issue of compensation cleared up, so that she could get on with living the rest of her life.
Although some victims are of the opinion that the Northern Ireland Office has held up the process, there is evidence to suggest that some solicitors acting on their behalf have not supplied all the necessary paperwork to the NIO.
Traffic warden Rosemary Ingram was on duty, when she was caught up in the Market Street bomb on August 15,1998.
Mrs Ingram is now medically retired from her job as traffic warden line-manager. She suffered shrapnel injuries to her legs and back and still hears ringing in her ears, all of which have rendered her with 65 per cent disability.
"I hate complaining, I don't want to complain," said Mrs Ingram.
" But I feel that the Northern Ireland Office is not treating the injured the way they said they would treat them after the bomb," she said.
As the third anniversary of the bomb approaches, she is still awaiting compensation for her injuries.
She said she had relayed all of the necessary medical reports to her Omagh-based solicitor, but added that no date had been fixed, as yet, for a hearing.
Her fear is that she will be unable to get on with her life if the issue continues to drag on.
"It is about time the Northern Ireland Office did something to let us all get on with our lives," she added.
For 20 years, the Omagh woman worked as a traffic warden, and when she was offered promotion as a supervisor, she thought she would be financially secure.
Mrs Ingram recalled that the only reason she was out on the street that fateful Saturday, was because the office had been short staffed.
Training for evacuation, in the event of a bomb alert, had not been given, the former traffic warden revealed.
"All the training I ever had was on how to direct traffic and how to issue parking tickets," she added.
Some of Mrs Ingram's frustration at the lack of movement on compensation was born of a perception that a three-year limit would be applied to her claim.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said this was incorrect and that claims for compensation had to be made within three years of the date of the injury.
He said he could not comment on any individual case, but said that each case was treated on its own merits.
It is understood, however, that in compensation claims for severe injury, medical evidence is collected over a longer period of time. Ultimately, it takes a longer time to process those claims.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ingram's solicitor said that he was not in a position to comment on any individual cases. He confirmed that he is aware that, in some cases, there were issues, which had to be clarified, and matters which were outstanding. He said it was not appropriate to blame anyone for the situation.
However, the Northern Ireland Office said that they could not proceed with the cases until the relevant information had been received.
Omagh man Billy Jameson is also waiting for compensation. His wife Ursula, badly injured in the Omagh bombing, along with their son William, is still waiting for settlement.
Mr Jameson said the bomb had destroyed their careers.
"What I saw that day, no man should ever have to see," he said.
"My wife was in hospital for five weeks and the wee fellow was in for two weeks. William was in a wheelchair for three months, because he couldn't put pressure on his foot," he said.
Mr Jameson revealed that he had been in touch with the compensation agency, once a month, for over a year, but nothing had been settled.
He said all of the necessary paperwork had been with the NIO Compensation Agency since June last year.
An interim payment had been offered, but Mr Jameson had been reluctant to take it, as he feared the issue would then drag on.
"I'm just fed up with them now," he said. "I think it is time they had a wake-up call."
It is understood that only one forensic accountant is employed by the NIO to deal with compensation cases. It is a department that deals with a massive workload covering claims for minor and serious injuries.
A source revealed that there was uncertainty within the department over its future direction.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/393
Published Date: 10-Apr-01
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