AT 10 MINUTES PAST THREE ON AUGUST 15 1998
At 10 minutes past three on August 15,1998, a Real IRA bomb ripped through the heart of Omagh. It was the biggest single atrocity throughout the Troubles and claimed the lives of 29 people and unborn twins. Those who perished were:
Rocio Abad Ramos, a 23-year-old exchange student, was looking after Spanish and Irish school children on their trip to the Ulster Folk Park, Among them were Sean McLaughlin, a 12-year-old schoolboy from Buncrana and his friends Oran Doherty and James Barker and Spanish schoolboy Fernando Blasco. Femando's family tiger to terrorism - his father had been injured by an ETA bomb in Spain in 1992.
Geraldine Breslin was a 43-year-old married mother from Drumanon Close, Omagh. She worked as an assistant in Watterson's clothes shop, but had walked down the street during a tea break. She was killed instantly by the bomb explosion, alongside her friend Ann McCombe, a 48-year-old mother-of two from Summerhill Park, Omagh.
Deborah-Anne Cartwright was a 20-year-old student who worked in a beauty salon. A former pupil of Omagh High School, she was awaiting her A-level results to see if she had been successful in getting a place in a textile design course at Manchester University.
Gareth Conway was an 18-year-old student from Carrickmore near Omagh. He was standing close to the bomb and died almost instantly.
Breda Devine was a 20-month-old toddler when she was murdered by the bombers. Born three months prematurely, she had clung to life in hospital. Her mother suffered 60% burns in the bomb and was unconscious for six weeks, unaware that her daughter had been killed. Adrian Gallagher, a 21-year-old self-employed mechanic, had taken the afternoon off to go into Omagh for a pair of jeans and was killed close to the site of the explosion.
Esther Gibson was a 36-year-old Sunday school teacher, who worked in Desmond's clothes factory in the town. She died from head injuries.
Mary Grimes, aged 66, went shopping in Omagh with her daughter Avril Monaghan, who was heavily pregnant with twins, and granddaughter Maura Monaghan. All three were killed together as they left SD Kells clothes shop.
Olive Hawkes, aged 60, was killed by the explosion while on a routine shopping trip to Omagh.
Julia Hughes was a 21-year-old accountancy student from Beltany Road, Omagh. She had got a summer job in Image Xpress, a photographic shop. Due to the inaccurate warnings, she was evacuated from her shop only to meet the full force of the bomb explosion. Brenda Logue, aged 17, walked out of the shop she was in to find out why people were running and was killed instantly when the bomb exploded in front of her. Her family inside escaped with cuts.
Jolene Marlow, a 17-year-old student from Newtownsaville, near Omagh, was in Omagh with her sister and grandmother. They had been eating lunch in a cafe, when it was evacuated due to the bomb alert. All three walked towards the bomb.
Brian McCrory was a 54-year-old from Ballinamullan Road, Omagh. He had gone to Omagh to buy paint and was talking with a friend near the car that contained the bomb when it exploded.
Samantha McFarland was a 17-year-old student from Hospital Road, Omagh. She was working with her friend, Lorraine Wilson (15), in the Oxfam charity shop when it was evacuated. Samantha did not want to go too far because she had the shop keys, and the two girls walked towards the bomb. They were killed when it exploded. Sean McGrath was critically injured in the bomb and was being treated for shrapnel wounds in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. In the early hours of September 5, he died surrounded by his family, finalising the death toll at 29. Alan Radford, a 16-year-old schoolboy from Casteview Park, in Omagh. Alan had been in town shopping when he suffered fatal shrapnel wounds. His mother, who was nearby, was injured. Alan's father had survived a murder attempt by the IRA some years previously. Libby Rush, aged 57, died serving customers in her shop on Market Street, which was sited just opposite the centre of the explosion. The ground floor wag a furniture shop, while she ran a small cafe on the first floor.
Veda Short, aged 56, had worked in Watterson's clothes shop for 20 years. She was on her break at the time of the explosion and had gone for a walk down to Market Street, where she was killed.
Philomena Skelton, aged 39, was in SD Kells with her three daughters. The shop bore the brunt of the blast, partially collapsing on those inside. Her husband Kevin was in the shop next door and escaped with cuts.
Bryan White, a 27-year-old horticulturist from Knockgreenan Avenue, Omagh, died alongside his father, Fred White. He had returned from University in England and was due to start a job with the council two days later. Fred was a prize-winning daffodil grower.
Rocio Abad Ramos, a 23-year-old exchange student, was looking after Spanish and Irish school children on their trip to the Ulster Folk Park, Among them were Sean McLaughlin, a 12-year-old schoolboy from Buncrana and his friends Oran Doherty and James Barker and Spanish schoolboy Fernando Blasco. Femando's family tiger to terrorism - his father had been injured by an ETA bomb in Spain in 1992.
Geraldine Breslin was a 43-year-old married mother from Drumanon Close, Omagh. She worked as an assistant in Watterson's clothes shop, but had walked down the street during a tea break. She was killed instantly by the bomb explosion, alongside her friend Ann McCombe, a 48-year-old mother-of two from Summerhill Park, Omagh.
Deborah-Anne Cartwright was a 20-year-old student who worked in a beauty salon. A former pupil of Omagh High School, she was awaiting her A-level results to see if she had been successful in getting a place in a textile design course at Manchester University.
Gareth Conway was an 18-year-old student from Carrickmore near Omagh. He was standing close to the bomb and died almost instantly.
Breda Devine was a 20-month-old toddler when she was murdered by the bombers. Born three months prematurely, she had clung to life in hospital. Her mother suffered 60% burns in the bomb and was unconscious for six weeks, unaware that her daughter had been killed. Adrian Gallagher, a 21-year-old self-employed mechanic, had taken the afternoon off to go into Omagh for a pair of jeans and was killed close to the site of the explosion.
Esther Gibson was a 36-year-old Sunday school teacher, who worked in Desmond's clothes factory in the town. She died from head injuries.
Mary Grimes, aged 66, went shopping in Omagh with her daughter Avril Monaghan, who was heavily pregnant with twins, and granddaughter Maura Monaghan. All three were killed together as they left SD Kells clothes shop.
Olive Hawkes, aged 60, was killed by the explosion while on a routine shopping trip to Omagh.
Julia Hughes was a 21-year-old accountancy student from Beltany Road, Omagh. She had got a summer job in Image Xpress, a photographic shop. Due to the inaccurate warnings, she was evacuated from her shop only to meet the full force of the bomb explosion. Brenda Logue, aged 17, walked out of the shop she was in to find out why people were running and was killed instantly when the bomb exploded in front of her. Her family inside escaped with cuts.
Jolene Marlow, a 17-year-old student from Newtownsaville, near Omagh, was in Omagh with her sister and grandmother. They had been eating lunch in a cafe, when it was evacuated due to the bomb alert. All three walked towards the bomb.
Brian McCrory was a 54-year-old from Ballinamullan Road, Omagh. He had gone to Omagh to buy paint and was talking with a friend near the car that contained the bomb when it exploded.
Samantha McFarland was a 17-year-old student from Hospital Road, Omagh. She was working with her friend, Lorraine Wilson (15), in the Oxfam charity shop when it was evacuated. Samantha did not want to go too far because she had the shop keys, and the two girls walked towards the bomb. They were killed when it exploded. Sean McGrath was critically injured in the bomb and was being treated for shrapnel wounds in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. In the early hours of September 5, he died surrounded by his family, finalising the death toll at 29. Alan Radford, a 16-year-old schoolboy from Casteview Park, in Omagh. Alan had been in town shopping when he suffered fatal shrapnel wounds. His mother, who was nearby, was injured. Alan's father had survived a murder attempt by the IRA some years previously. Libby Rush, aged 57, died serving customers in her shop on Market Street, which was sited just opposite the centre of the explosion. The ground floor wag a furniture shop, while she ran a small cafe on the first floor.
Veda Short, aged 56, had worked in Watterson's clothes shop for 20 years. She was on her break at the time of the explosion and had gone for a walk down to Market Street, where she was killed.
Philomena Skelton, aged 39, was in SD Kells with her three daughters. The shop bore the brunt of the blast, partially collapsing on those inside. Her husband Kevin was in the shop next door and escaped with cuts.
Bryan White, a 27-year-old horticulturist from Knockgreenan Avenue, Omagh, died alongside his father, Fred White. He had returned from University in England and was due to start a job with the council two days later. Fred was a prize-winning daffodil grower.
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL10An/03
Published Date: 10-Aug-08
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