WAR OF WORDS OVER OMAGH MEMORIAL
War of words over Omagh memorial
BY ANNE PALMER AND PA
THE unveiling of a planned memorial to victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity was marred yesterday by a row over the wording it is to carry.
Relatives of some of those murdered in the Real IRA attack threatened to erect their own monument unless the commissioned work makes it clear who carried out the slaughter.
The innovative design will feature a beam of golden light and a glass-cut crystal heart to illuminate the memory of those who died in the bombing of August 15, 1998.
Using cutting-edge technology, pillars of light - each representing a victim - and mirrors will illuminate Market Street as a permanent reminder of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the attack.
Dublin-based team Desmond Fitzgerald, landscape architects, and artist Sean Hillen won the design contest to transform Omagh's Memorial Garden and the site of the bomb.
Controversy has dogged the international competition because of a disagreement over the inscription on the memorial, with it being claimed that those involved are refusing to guarantee the form of words requested.
Danny McSorley, chairman of Omagh Memorial Working Group, led by Omagh District Council, confirmed an independent professional facilitator is to be appointed to head discussions aimed at reaching an agreement.
"Neither Omagh District Council nor the working group have agreed or rejected words," he said.
Mr McSorley said letters had been sent to the bereaved families and those injured to let them know about the design selected, and that they would be invited to public information sessions at which the different views could be aired.
"We accept it has been controversial, we accept it has been quite sensitive and delicate, but that is the approach we have taken, a very careful and planned process," he said.
Mr McSorley said that while the Omagh Support and Self Help Group - chaired by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was one of those killed - had previously decided not to directly participate in the process, he hoped they would continue to participate in future discussions.
Mr Gallagher confirmed that he had not been invited to the Press launch of the new memorial.
He said the group would never close any door, though added: "The fact that an independent facilitator is to be appointed proves that the wording the families have chosen is the problem.
"What is wrong with the truth? We don't need an independent facilitator to say what the truth is."
Mr Gallagher said that at the bare minimum, the relatives want the new memorial to say that 31 people from three nations were killed and hundreds were injured by a dissident republican car bomb.
"The people who were responsible claimed responsibility," he said.
"Given the uphill struggle we have had in a strong republican area, it is obvious that some people have difficulty with the wording.
"We will not let this issue go unaddressed. We will take our own action to ensure that what happened is said on the street.
"We owe it to the families who have supported us and we owe it to the dead - we will not let them down."
Relatives have threatened to erect their own monument if necessary.
Mr Gallagher said: "If the memorial working group and the council are unwilling to address the issue, we will mark the spot.
"We will take appropriate action to make sure the truth is told. Some people might view that as a threat, but if the truth is a threat people can judge for themselves.
"We will have no choice other than to address the issue ourselves. There can be no ambiguity over what happened on August 15, 1998 and no dancing around words can distract from the truth."
BY ANNE PALMER AND PA
THE unveiling of a planned memorial to victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity was marred yesterday by a row over the wording it is to carry.
Relatives of some of those murdered in the Real IRA attack threatened to erect their own monument unless the commissioned work makes it clear who carried out the slaughter.
The innovative design will feature a beam of golden light and a glass-cut crystal heart to illuminate the memory of those who died in the bombing of August 15, 1998.
Using cutting-edge technology, pillars of light - each representing a victim - and mirrors will illuminate Market Street as a permanent reminder of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the attack.
Dublin-based team Desmond Fitzgerald, landscape architects, and artist Sean Hillen won the design contest to transform Omagh's Memorial Garden and the site of the bomb.
Controversy has dogged the international competition because of a disagreement over the inscription on the memorial, with it being claimed that those involved are refusing to guarantee the form of words requested.
Danny McSorley, chairman of Omagh Memorial Working Group, led by Omagh District Council, confirmed an independent professional facilitator is to be appointed to head discussions aimed at reaching an agreement.
"Neither Omagh District Council nor the working group have agreed or rejected words," he said.
Mr McSorley said letters had been sent to the bereaved families and those injured to let them know about the design selected, and that they would be invited to public information sessions at which the different views could be aired.
"We accept it has been controversial, we accept it has been quite sensitive and delicate, but that is the approach we have taken, a very careful and planned process," he said.
Mr McSorley said that while the Omagh Support and Self Help Group - chaired by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was one of those killed - had previously decided not to directly participate in the process, he hoped they would continue to participate in future discussions.
Mr Gallagher confirmed that he had not been invited to the Press launch of the new memorial.
He said the group would never close any door, though added: "The fact that an independent facilitator is to be appointed proves that the wording the families have chosen is the problem.
"What is wrong with the truth? We don't need an independent facilitator to say what the truth is."
Mr Gallagher said that at the bare minimum, the relatives want the new memorial to say that 31 people from three nations were killed and hundreds were injured by a dissident republican car bomb.
"The people who were responsible claimed responsibility," he said.
"Given the uphill struggle we have had in a strong republican area, it is obvious that some people have difficulty with the wording.
"We will not let this issue go unaddressed. We will take our own action to ensure that what happened is said on the street.
"We owe it to the families who have supported us and we owe it to the dead - we will not let them down."
Relatives have threatened to erect their own monument if necessary.
Mr Gallagher said: "If the memorial working group and the council are unwilling to address the issue, we will mark the spot.
"We will take appropriate action to make sure the truth is told. Some people might view that as a threat, but if the truth is a threat people can judge for themselves.
"We will have no choice other than to address the issue ourselves. There can be no ambiguity over what happened on August 15, 1998 and no dancing around words can distract from the truth."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/701
Published Date: 19-Sep-07
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