LEST WE FORGET
LEST WE FORGET
DEBORAH ANNE CARTWRIGHT (20), OMAGH - Heartrendingly, the young local woman was dug out of the rubble by her RUC officer father at the scene of devastation in Market Street. The distraught dad had had no idea his daughter was one of the victims until he made the horrific discovery.
ROCIO ABAD RAMOS (23), MADRID - The young Spanish exchange group leader was making her third trip to the country she loved in charge of a Madrid group learning English in Buncrana. She'd been due to go home soon for her sister's wedding.
JAMES BARKER (12), BUNCRANA - Chelsea FC mad James had only moved to Donegal from England with his family last year.
His mum, Donna Maria said: "To see him lying there with half of his head gone and those beautiful green eyes looking out at me as if he was waiting for me was devastating."
PHILOMENA SKELTON (39), DRUMQUIN -The mum of four had brought three of her four teenage children into Omagh for her twice yearly shopping expedition. Philomena's husband, Kevin had been in a shop next door when the bomb went off. He discovered his wife lying dead in the carnage and then spent one-and-a-half agonising hours searching for his daughters.
ADRIAN GALLAGHER (21), OMAGH - Taking time off work to buy a new pair of boots and jeans cost the car body work firm owner his life. A friend who accompanied him into town was injured. His death is the second tragedy to hit the Gallaghers. Adrian's uncle, Hugh -former part-time UDR soldier - was shot dead by the IRA in 1984.
FERNANDO BLASCO BASELGA (12), MADRID - The Spanish youngster had been staying with James Barker and his family during his stay in Ireland. His elder sister, 14-year-old Lucrecia was also caught in the blast, sustaining serious facial and ear injuries. She may have to undergo plastic surgery-
GERALDINE BRESLIN (43), OMAGH - The mother of a teenage son's friendship with her Protestant workmate, Anne McCombe symbolised the community harmony of the County Tyrone town. She'd been on a late lunch break with Anne when the blast occurred. Local priest, Fr John Forbes said of Geraldine: "She was a beautiful woman who was the salt of the earth."
GARETH CONWAY (18), CARRICKMORE - The teenager was getting set to take up an engineering course in Magee College next month. He'd gone into Omagh town centre to buy contact lenses when he was caught in the blast. Gareth was eagerly anticipating the results of his A-level exams this week - a painful reminder of what could have been....
ORAN DOHERTY (8), BUNCRANA - The flaxen haired Donegal boy lived just a few doors away from another Omagh atrocity victim, Sean McLaughlin. In the grim aftermath, his little brother, three year old Oisin still couldn't understand why Oran hadn't come home. Big sister, Lisa said: "He was so loving and gentle and very generous. He was just an angel and we will all miss him so much."
ESTHER GIBSON (36), BERAGH - The Sunday School teacher was looking forward to two weddings - her sister Caroline's next month...and her own next July. Fiance, Kenneth Hawkes said "Esther was kind and loving - the most generous person I have ever known. She couldn't wait to start a family. We wanted a boy and a girl."
MARY GRIMES (65), BERAGH - husband, Mick was waiting back at their dairy farm home to wish her Happy birthday with a big bunch of flowers...She never came home alive. Mary and two generations of her family pregnant daughter, Avril and grandaughter, Maura died together in the blast.
JULIA HUGHES (21), OMAGH - The Dundee University accountancy student had taken a part-time job in an Omagh High Street photo shop for the summer. She was one of the hundreds of people to be caught up in the blast after being evacuated down the street.
JOLENE MARLOW (17), NEWTOWNSAVILLE - The former Loreto Convent student was another local youngster awaiting her exam results this week. Her younger sister, Nicola and two great aunts Bernie Shaw and Rose McNelis were also caught up in the blast. Jolene's dad, Joe said: "She was a leader in this house. The family adored her and looked up to her."
BRIAN MCCRORY (54), OMAGH - The torment and agonising period of hoping against hope for good news was the most prolonged for this man's family. The crane driver and father of three, who broke the habit of a lifetime to go into town on a Saturday, was the last of the 28 victims of the Omagh bombing to be officially named.
SAMANTHA MCFARLAND (17), OMAGH - The Strabane College pupil had been working as a volunteer in the Oxfam charity shop with her best friend, Lorraine Wilson. The girls were evacuated down the street and died in the blast at Market Street. A friend poignantly said of them: "They died as they lived...side by side."
SEAN MCLAUGHLIN (12), BUNCRANA- The St Michael's Oratory altar boy had been with his friends from the Spanish exchange trip when the bomb ripped through Omagh town centre. The boy "with the happy smiling face" had recently travelled to Dublin with school friends to read a jointly composed peace poem to Irish President, Mary McAleese.
OLIVE HAWKES (60), OMAGH - It was Saturday afternoon tradition for the pensioner to make the six mile trip from her home into Omagh town centre for her weekly shopping expedition. She leaves behind grieving family, husband, Percy and two children. Her funeral service was held at Moyne Methodist Church last Wednesday.
BRENDA LOGUE (17), CARRICKMORE - The sports loving teenager, who played in goals for her local GAA team, had been on a shopping expedition with her mum and grandmother. Noticing the crowds coming down High Street into Market Street, Brenda went outside to find out what was happening and was killed.
ANNE McCOMBE (48), OMAGH - The mother of two died alongside her best friend in work, Geraldine Breslin.
Her husband Stanley said: "She was not just my wife, She was my best friend as well. She was such a loving, caring person. She had not a bad word to say about anybody."
AVRIL MONAGHAN (30), AUGHADARRA - The mother of four who was expecting twins in October died with her 18 month old child, Maura and mum, Mary. They had taken shelter in a clothes shop -thinking they were safe from danger. Avril who worked as a secretary rarely went into
Omagh town, preferring to stay home with her carpenter husband, Michael.
ALAN RADFORD (16), OMAGH - The teenager had been helping his mum with her shopping when he was killed instantly by the blast. He was one of the last victims to be identified. His brother said: "They pulled back the sheet and I saw his wee face. He had this awful look of amazement in his eyes. That's how he died, wondering what on God's earth had happened to him."
BRYAN WHITE (26), OMAGH - The local man had just returned from a family holiday to start a new job with the council.
He'd been shopping with his dad, Fred when they were caught up in the blast. The father and son were laid to rest together after a joint funeral service in Ballynahatty and Creevan Presbyterian Church.
ELIZABETH RUSH (57), OMAGH - The local woman ran a small pine and canework shop and upstairs cafe beside the Cosy Corner Pub with her daughter. Mrs Rush who was busy serving customers in the bustling business in Market Street died in the wreckage of the premises - just feet away from the bomb.
FRED WHITE (60), OMAGH - Mr White was an office holder in the Omagh Ulster Unionist Association. Party leader, David Trimble paid tribute saying: "His death and the death of his son is a tremendous tragedy for me personally. His family are in a terrible state."
VEDA SHORT (56), GORTACLARE -The mother of four worked in the lingerie department of Watterson's clothes stores.
Two of her colleagues, Geraldine Breslin and Anne McCombe were also killed in the blast. Her funeral was held in Seskinore Presbyterian Church last Wednesday.
LORRAINE WILSON (15), OMAGH - The hockey loving Omagh High School girl had been working with best friend, Samantha McFarland as a volunteer in the local Oxfam Shop. She wanted to be a chef when she finished her studies. Her mum, Ann said: "She used to cook our Sunday lunch every week. Now never a Sunday will go by without us missing her and thinking of her."
DEBORAH ANNE CARTWRIGHT (20), OMAGH - Heartrendingly, the young local woman was dug out of the rubble by her RUC officer father at the scene of devastation in Market Street. The distraught dad had had no idea his daughter was one of the victims until he made the horrific discovery.
ROCIO ABAD RAMOS (23), MADRID - The young Spanish exchange group leader was making her third trip to the country she loved in charge of a Madrid group learning English in Buncrana. She'd been due to go home soon for her sister's wedding.
JAMES BARKER (12), BUNCRANA - Chelsea FC mad James had only moved to Donegal from England with his family last year.
His mum, Donna Maria said: "To see him lying there with half of his head gone and those beautiful green eyes looking out at me as if he was waiting for me was devastating."
PHILOMENA SKELTON (39), DRUMQUIN -The mum of four had brought three of her four teenage children into Omagh for her twice yearly shopping expedition. Philomena's husband, Kevin had been in a shop next door when the bomb went off. He discovered his wife lying dead in the carnage and then spent one-and-a-half agonising hours searching for his daughters.
ADRIAN GALLAGHER (21), OMAGH - Taking time off work to buy a new pair of boots and jeans cost the car body work firm owner his life. A friend who accompanied him into town was injured. His death is the second tragedy to hit the Gallaghers. Adrian's uncle, Hugh -former part-time UDR soldier - was shot dead by the IRA in 1984.
FERNANDO BLASCO BASELGA (12), MADRID - The Spanish youngster had been staying with James Barker and his family during his stay in Ireland. His elder sister, 14-year-old Lucrecia was also caught in the blast, sustaining serious facial and ear injuries. She may have to undergo plastic surgery-
GERALDINE BRESLIN (43), OMAGH - The mother of a teenage son's friendship with her Protestant workmate, Anne McCombe symbolised the community harmony of the County Tyrone town. She'd been on a late lunch break with Anne when the blast occurred. Local priest, Fr John Forbes said of Geraldine: "She was a beautiful woman who was the salt of the earth."
GARETH CONWAY (18), CARRICKMORE - The teenager was getting set to take up an engineering course in Magee College next month. He'd gone into Omagh town centre to buy contact lenses when he was caught in the blast. Gareth was eagerly anticipating the results of his A-level exams this week - a painful reminder of what could have been....
ORAN DOHERTY (8), BUNCRANA - The flaxen haired Donegal boy lived just a few doors away from another Omagh atrocity victim, Sean McLaughlin. In the grim aftermath, his little brother, three year old Oisin still couldn't understand why Oran hadn't come home. Big sister, Lisa said: "He was so loving and gentle and very generous. He was just an angel and we will all miss him so much."
ESTHER GIBSON (36), BERAGH - The Sunday School teacher was looking forward to two weddings - her sister Caroline's next month...and her own next July. Fiance, Kenneth Hawkes said "Esther was kind and loving - the most generous person I have ever known. She couldn't wait to start a family. We wanted a boy and a girl."
MARY GRIMES (65), BERAGH - husband, Mick was waiting back at their dairy farm home to wish her Happy birthday with a big bunch of flowers...She never came home alive. Mary and two generations of her family pregnant daughter, Avril and grandaughter, Maura died together in the blast.
JULIA HUGHES (21), OMAGH - The Dundee University accountancy student had taken a part-time job in an Omagh High Street photo shop for the summer. She was one of the hundreds of people to be caught up in the blast after being evacuated down the street.
JOLENE MARLOW (17), NEWTOWNSAVILLE - The former Loreto Convent student was another local youngster awaiting her exam results this week. Her younger sister, Nicola and two great aunts Bernie Shaw and Rose McNelis were also caught up in the blast. Jolene's dad, Joe said: "She was a leader in this house. The family adored her and looked up to her."
BRIAN MCCRORY (54), OMAGH - The torment and agonising period of hoping against hope for good news was the most prolonged for this man's family. The crane driver and father of three, who broke the habit of a lifetime to go into town on a Saturday, was the last of the 28 victims of the Omagh bombing to be officially named.
SAMANTHA MCFARLAND (17), OMAGH - The Strabane College pupil had been working as a volunteer in the Oxfam charity shop with her best friend, Lorraine Wilson. The girls were evacuated down the street and died in the blast at Market Street. A friend poignantly said of them: "They died as they lived...side by side."
SEAN MCLAUGHLIN (12), BUNCRANA- The St Michael's Oratory altar boy had been with his friends from the Spanish exchange trip when the bomb ripped through Omagh town centre. The boy "with the happy smiling face" had recently travelled to Dublin with school friends to read a jointly composed peace poem to Irish President, Mary McAleese.
OLIVE HAWKES (60), OMAGH - It was Saturday afternoon tradition for the pensioner to make the six mile trip from her home into Omagh town centre for her weekly shopping expedition. She leaves behind grieving family, husband, Percy and two children. Her funeral service was held at Moyne Methodist Church last Wednesday.
BRENDA LOGUE (17), CARRICKMORE - The sports loving teenager, who played in goals for her local GAA team, had been on a shopping expedition with her mum and grandmother. Noticing the crowds coming down High Street into Market Street, Brenda went outside to find out what was happening and was killed.
ANNE McCOMBE (48), OMAGH - The mother of two died alongside her best friend in work, Geraldine Breslin.
Her husband Stanley said: "She was not just my wife, She was my best friend as well. She was such a loving, caring person. She had not a bad word to say about anybody."
AVRIL MONAGHAN (30), AUGHADARRA - The mother of four who was expecting twins in October died with her 18 month old child, Maura and mum, Mary. They had taken shelter in a clothes shop -thinking they were safe from danger. Avril who worked as a secretary rarely went into
Omagh town, preferring to stay home with her carpenter husband, Michael.
ALAN RADFORD (16), OMAGH - The teenager had been helping his mum with her shopping when he was killed instantly by the blast. He was one of the last victims to be identified. His brother said: "They pulled back the sheet and I saw his wee face. He had this awful look of amazement in his eyes. That's how he died, wondering what on God's earth had happened to him."
BRYAN WHITE (26), OMAGH - The local man had just returned from a family holiday to start a new job with the council.
He'd been shopping with his dad, Fred when they were caught up in the blast. The father and son were laid to rest together after a joint funeral service in Ballynahatty and Creevan Presbyterian Church.
ELIZABETH RUSH (57), OMAGH - The local woman ran a small pine and canework shop and upstairs cafe beside the Cosy Corner Pub with her daughter. Mrs Rush who was busy serving customers in the bustling business in Market Street died in the wreckage of the premises - just feet away from the bomb.
FRED WHITE (60), OMAGH - Mr White was an office holder in the Omagh Ulster Unionist Association. Party leader, David Trimble paid tribute saying: "His death and the death of his son is a tremendous tragedy for me personally. His family are in a terrible state."
VEDA SHORT (56), GORTACLARE -The mother of four worked in the lingerie department of Watterson's clothes stores.
Two of her colleagues, Geraldine Breslin and Anne McCombe were also killed in the blast. Her funeral was held in Seskinore Presbyterian Church last Wednesday.
LORRAINE WILSON (15), OMAGH - The hockey loving Omagh High School girl had been working with best friend, Samantha McFarland as a volunteer in the local Oxfam Shop. She wanted to be a chef when she finished her studies. Her mum, Ann said: "She used to cook our Sunday lunch every week. Now never a Sunday will go by without us missing her and thinking of her."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/057
Published Date: 23-Aug-98
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