OMAGH BOMB WIDOWER IS LAID TO REST
Omagh bomb widower is laid to rest
A 70-YEAR-OLD man who lost his wife in the Omagh bomb was laid to rest alongside his beloved spouse yesterday.
Laurence Rush lost his wife Elizabeth (known as Libby) in the August 1998 atrocity.
She was among 29 people and two unborn twins killed in the blast which was carried out by the Real IRA.
Several hundred people attended Mr Rush's funeral at the Sacred Heart Church in Omagh yesterday.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden in the Omagh bomb, was among those who attended. He said the service featured a lot of music which Mr Rush had loved.
Mr Gallagher said it was a very sad occasion for the Omagh families to see a friend pass away before anyone had been brought to justice for the bombing.
Mr Rush died surrounded by family at Knockmoyle Lodge nursing home outside Omagh.
His three grown-up children, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren were at the service to say their final goodbyes.
He was then interred at Drumragh graveyard where his wife Elizabeth had been buried.
Elizabeth Rush was serving customers in the family-run pine and canework shop in Market Street in Omagh when she was killed.
She had been married to Laurence since they were teenagers and the couple would have celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary in 2000.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Rush had never recovered from losing her.
Speaking in 1998, Mr Rush said: "They haven't just destroyed my wife, they have destroyed me.
"I have lost not only my wife, I have lost my soulmate".
Mr Gallagher said his friend would still want answers.
Mr Rush took a civil action against the chief constable and secretary of state in 2002 which has not yet concluded. Mr Gallagher said he understood that Mr Rush's family will proceed with the case, ensuring that their father's work continued.
"We have so many different memories of Laurence," he said.
"He was a great advocate for truth and justice, it is very sad to see his passing.
"He was driven to try and find answers and that was something that really consumed his life but he did not get to see truth and justice for Libby in his lifetime.
"Laurence took a civil action against the chief constable and secretary of state in 2002, that process is continuing, his family are carrying it on."
Mr Gallagher paid tribute to Mr Rush.
"He was very bright, he was very intelligent, he was a very creative person and he could have been very good company to be in... that's the sad thing about how these things develop, you don't see that other side," he said.
"This event totally destroyed his life."
Mr Rush was being cared for in the nursing home after suffering a stroke in recent years.
A 70-YEAR-OLD man who lost his wife in the Omagh bomb was laid to rest alongside his beloved spouse yesterday.
Laurence Rush lost his wife Elizabeth (known as Libby) in the August 1998 atrocity.
She was among 29 people and two unborn twins killed in the blast which was carried out by the Real IRA.
Several hundred people attended Mr Rush's funeral at the Sacred Heart Church in Omagh yesterday.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden in the Omagh bomb, was among those who attended. He said the service featured a lot of music which Mr Rush had loved.
Mr Gallagher said it was a very sad occasion for the Omagh families to see a friend pass away before anyone had been brought to justice for the bombing.
Mr Rush died surrounded by family at Knockmoyle Lodge nursing home outside Omagh.
His three grown-up children, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren were at the service to say their final goodbyes.
He was then interred at Drumragh graveyard where his wife Elizabeth had been buried.
Elizabeth Rush was serving customers in the family-run pine and canework shop in Market Street in Omagh when she was killed.
She had been married to Laurence since they were teenagers and the couple would have celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary in 2000.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Rush had never recovered from losing her.
Speaking in 1998, Mr Rush said: "They haven't just destroyed my wife, they have destroyed me.
"I have lost not only my wife, I have lost my soulmate".
Mr Gallagher said his friend would still want answers.
Mr Rush took a civil action against the chief constable and secretary of state in 2002 which has not yet concluded. Mr Gallagher said he understood that Mr Rush's family will proceed with the case, ensuring that their father's work continued.
"We have so many different memories of Laurence," he said.
"He was a great advocate for truth and justice, it is very sad to see his passing.
"He was driven to try and find answers and that was something that really consumed his life but he did not get to see truth and justice for Libby in his lifetime.
"Laurence took a civil action against the chief constable and secretary of state in 2002, that process is continuing, his family are carrying it on."
Mr Gallagher paid tribute to Mr Rush.
"He was very bright, he was very intelligent, he was a very creative person and he could have been very good company to be in... that's the sad thing about how these things develop, you don't see that other side," he said.
"This event totally destroyed his life."
Mr Rush was being cared for in the nursing home after suffering a stroke in recent years.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/831
Published Date: 07-Mar-12
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.