COMPENSATION TO COME AFTER LONG WAIT
Compensation to come after long wait
A SURVIVOR of the Omagh blast, Rosemary Ingram, knows very well how lucky she is.
A sister of Stanley McCombe, she was a traffic warden on duty in the town centre that Saturday, and was estimated to be only two car lengths away from the bomb vehicle when it exploded, slamming shrapnel into her back and legs.
Now, she may well be one of the lucky ones for a second time having learned yesterday that her claim may be settled by the end of this month.
"I have been told either April 29 or May 8 and I'm just hoping it's April 29," she said. "I hate complaining because I'm so thankful that I'm here, but I could move on if this was sorted out. Having this hanging over your head doesn't help."
For the first two weeks after the blast, Rosemary was largely unaware of what was going on around her and reckons it was virtually Christmas before what had happened really sank in.
Since then, she feels everyone has played their part in delaying her claim,including her employers at the time, the former Police Authority, her solicitor and the Northern Ireland Office.
"I have had to chase everyone, but I have to be honest and say that only the NIO actually come back to me when they say they will. My solicitor told me once that he had other clients who were more important. It is very confusing with everybody blaming everyone else.
"I'm told there were all sorts of promises made at the time about how the compensation would all be sorted out but it has gone on far too long."
A SURVIVOR of the Omagh blast, Rosemary Ingram, knows very well how lucky she is.
A sister of Stanley McCombe, she was a traffic warden on duty in the town centre that Saturday, and was estimated to be only two car lengths away from the bomb vehicle when it exploded, slamming shrapnel into her back and legs.
Now, she may well be one of the lucky ones for a second time having learned yesterday that her claim may be settled by the end of this month.
"I have been told either April 29 or May 8 and I'm just hoping it's April 29," she said. "I hate complaining because I'm so thankful that I'm here, but I could move on if this was sorted out. Having this hanging over your head doesn't help."
For the first two weeks after the blast, Rosemary was largely unaware of what was going on around her and reckons it was virtually Christmas before what had happened really sank in.
Since then, she feels everyone has played their part in delaying her claim,including her employers at the time, the former Police Authority, her solicitor and the Northern Ireland Office.
"I have had to chase everyone, but I have to be honest and say that only the NIO actually come back to me when they say they will. My solicitor told me once that he had other clients who were more important. It is very confusing with everybody blaming everyone else.
"I'm told there were all sorts of promises made at the time about how the compensation would all be sorted out but it has gone on far too long."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/431
Published Date: 09-Apr-02
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