OMAGH GIVES MESSAGE OF HOPE TO SPAIN
Omagh gives message of hope to Spain
By IAN STARRETT
OMAGH delivered a moving message of hope yesterday to the people of Madrid, in the aftermath of last Thursday's train bombings.
Allan Rainey, Omagh District Council chairman, presented a scroll expressing his town's solidarity with the Spanish capital to the Head of Madrid Regional Government, two days after the council opened a book of condolence for the people killed and injured in the atrocity.
Two Spaniards were amongst the 29 people, along with unborn twins, slaughtered in the Real IRA's 1998 Omagh bombing, the worst single atrocity in the Northern Ireland troubles.
The Madrid carnage cost over 200 lives and left more than 1,400 injured in terrorist attacks on commuter trains.
The visit by Mr Rainey is part of an international show of support for the victims of the March 11 massacre.
Mr Rainey said in Madrid yesterday: "If they take heed from us, that we have recovered and the lessons we have learned from it, then I believe it will give them great faith and courage to keep looking forward and looking and searching for that brighter and better day."
Councillors from all parties signed the book of condolence at a special meeting of Omagh District Council on Monday night to discuss its response to the bombings.
The event was attended by a group of students from northern Spain, who were on a visit to Omagh College of Further and Higher Education.
The book will be available for signing until the end of the month when it will then be presented in Madrid.
Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames and Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, jointly expressed the sympathy of the Church of Ireland to Rt Rev Carlos Lopez, of the Spanish Episcopal Church in Madrid.
Offering sympathy to the grieving people of Madrid, the two clerics said yesterday: "We have in the past experienced the horrors of mindless terrorism.
"We understand the fear and mistrust and sheer desperation that it produces and we pray with you for all who are injured and bereaved."
By IAN STARRETT
OMAGH delivered a moving message of hope yesterday to the people of Madrid, in the aftermath of last Thursday's train bombings.
Allan Rainey, Omagh District Council chairman, presented a scroll expressing his town's solidarity with the Spanish capital to the Head of Madrid Regional Government, two days after the council opened a book of condolence for the people killed and injured in the atrocity.
Two Spaniards were amongst the 29 people, along with unborn twins, slaughtered in the Real IRA's 1998 Omagh bombing, the worst single atrocity in the Northern Ireland troubles.
The Madrid carnage cost over 200 lives and left more than 1,400 injured in terrorist attacks on commuter trains.
The visit by Mr Rainey is part of an international show of support for the victims of the March 11 massacre.
Mr Rainey said in Madrid yesterday: "If they take heed from us, that we have recovered and the lessons we have learned from it, then I believe it will give them great faith and courage to keep looking forward and looking and searching for that brighter and better day."
Councillors from all parties signed the book of condolence at a special meeting of Omagh District Council on Monday night to discuss its response to the bombings.
The event was attended by a group of students from northern Spain, who were on a visit to Omagh College of Further and Higher Education.
The book will be available for signing until the end of the month when it will then be presented in Madrid.
Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames and Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, jointly expressed the sympathy of the Church of Ireland to Rt Rev Carlos Lopez, of the Spanish Episcopal Church in Madrid.
Offering sympathy to the grieving people of Madrid, the two clerics said yesterday: "We have in the past experienced the horrors of mindless terrorism.
"We understand the fear and mistrust and sheer desperation that it produces and we pray with you for all who are injured and bereaved."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/532
Published Date: 18-Mar-04
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