LIFELINES FOR THOSE MARKED OUT BY TROUBLES
Lifelines for those marked out by Troubles
By LESLEY WALSH
IT has been more than four years since Michael Gallagher was cruelly robbed of his beloved son, Adrian, yet his pain still defies measure. His story is similar to that of many victims of Ulster's violent past. He was one of 120 people who attended a conference focusing on Northern Ireland's 55 victims' and survivors' groups.
Held in Newcastle, Shaping our Future explored issues at the heart of those groups, such as funding and their future.
Mr Gallagher has been in the public eye since he was catapulted into the spotlight as spokesman for victims of the Real IRA bomb.
Speaking of the pain he and his family felt when his son died, Mr Gallagher said: "Our world was completely turned upside down."
His campaigning to bring the Omagh killers to justice has been instinctive.
"I tried to move on but I just felt there should be something done and I couldn't ignore that. I felt the best thing that I could do was to try to embrace that.
"I couldn't have walked away and done nothing.
"We have looked at atrocity after atrocity in Northern Ireland and there's been no justice for victims," he said.
"I felt I couldn't move on, knowing that these people had used 31 innocent lives to make a protest.
"There are times when you are alone and have nothing to occupy your thoughts," he-said.
"It's the thinking time that's dangerous.
"Your mind just drifts to what happened and how differently things could have and should have been.
"There's usually something that comes along to snap you out of it so you can move on."
Sadly, though, he said, "Some people can't do that."
Finding comfort in the victims' group, which has brought the Omagh relatives together like "one large family", Mr Gallagher looks forward to the day when he can go beyond simply being a victim.
"I hope there will come a time when I can reclaim my own person as I was before August 15,1998.
"I don't want to go through life being regarded as the father of one of the Omagh victims.
"I'd like to try to find the person who was there before that," he added.
David Hunter, co-founder of the Lisburn-based victims' group Families Against Crime by Terrorists (FACT), has been trying to help return people to their former selves.
Mr Hunter never knew his wife Janet's only brother, Joseph McIlwaine - a 20-year-old UDR soldier who was shot.
It was the impact of his death that prompted FACT into action.
Set up in 1998, the group has been a lifeline for people like Margaret Yeaman who was blinded by a bomb 20 years ago.
"She heard about us through a talking newspaper for the blind and she contacted us," said Mr Hunter.
"She became very involved, along with her family and is now chairman of the group.
"Margaret was blinded by a bomb blast in Banbridge and, back then, nobody wanted to know but, for the last three years, the group has been a lifeline for her."
Belfast woman Rosemary Lawlor spoke of the inspirational case of a young mother who, had it not been for Ballymurphy Women's Centre, would have succeeded in her frequent attempts at suicide.
Affected by stress, anxiety and one of the many women who turned to prescription drugs for respite, the young woman is now an active member of the group and has flourished through its outreach, counselling and befriending services.
Declining to identify her, Rosemary said: "She attempted suicide many times and it wasn't just a cry for help - she really meant it.
"But she came to us and is now working for us and she's not only trying to show us that she is capable but also to herself.
"It truly was a lifeline for her and she is a perfect example of how someone's life can be turned around," she said.
By LESLEY WALSH
IT has been more than four years since Michael Gallagher was cruelly robbed of his beloved son, Adrian, yet his pain still defies measure. His story is similar to that of many victims of Ulster's violent past. He was one of 120 people who attended a conference focusing on Northern Ireland's 55 victims' and survivors' groups.
Held in Newcastle, Shaping our Future explored issues at the heart of those groups, such as funding and their future.
Mr Gallagher has been in the public eye since he was catapulted into the spotlight as spokesman for victims of the Real IRA bomb.
Speaking of the pain he and his family felt when his son died, Mr Gallagher said: "Our world was completely turned upside down."
His campaigning to bring the Omagh killers to justice has been instinctive.
"I tried to move on but I just felt there should be something done and I couldn't ignore that. I felt the best thing that I could do was to try to embrace that.
"I couldn't have walked away and done nothing.
"We have looked at atrocity after atrocity in Northern Ireland and there's been no justice for victims," he said.
"I felt I couldn't move on, knowing that these people had used 31 innocent lives to make a protest.
"There are times when you are alone and have nothing to occupy your thoughts," he-said.
"It's the thinking time that's dangerous.
"Your mind just drifts to what happened and how differently things could have and should have been.
"There's usually something that comes along to snap you out of it so you can move on."
Sadly, though, he said, "Some people can't do that."
Finding comfort in the victims' group, which has brought the Omagh relatives together like "one large family", Mr Gallagher looks forward to the day when he can go beyond simply being a victim.
"I hope there will come a time when I can reclaim my own person as I was before August 15,1998.
"I don't want to go through life being regarded as the father of one of the Omagh victims.
"I'd like to try to find the person who was there before that," he added.
David Hunter, co-founder of the Lisburn-based victims' group Families Against Crime by Terrorists (FACT), has been trying to help return people to their former selves.
Mr Hunter never knew his wife Janet's only brother, Joseph McIlwaine - a 20-year-old UDR soldier who was shot.
It was the impact of his death that prompted FACT into action.
Set up in 1998, the group has been a lifeline for people like Margaret Yeaman who was blinded by a bomb 20 years ago.
"She heard about us through a talking newspaper for the blind and she contacted us," said Mr Hunter.
"She became very involved, along with her family and is now chairman of the group.
"Margaret was blinded by a bomb blast in Banbridge and, back then, nobody wanted to know but, for the last three years, the group has been a lifeline for her."
Belfast woman Rosemary Lawlor spoke of the inspirational case of a young mother who, had it not been for Ballymurphy Women's Centre, would have succeeded in her frequent attempts at suicide.
Affected by stress, anxiety and one of the many women who turned to prescription drugs for respite, the young woman is now an active member of the group and has flourished through its outreach, counselling and befriending services.
Declining to identify her, Rosemary said: "She attempted suicide many times and it wasn't just a cry for help - she really meant it.
"But she came to us and is now working for us and she's not only trying to show us that she is capable but also to herself.
"It truly was a lifeline for her and she is a perfect example of how someone's life can be turned around," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/455
Published Date: 12-Nov-02
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