MURDER MOST FOUL
Murder most foul
There is no other word that describes it. There is no justification for it. It is beyond the comprehension of decent human beings.
The murder of 28 innocent people in Omagh last Saturday has shocked us all.
The injuries inflicted on many others are indescribable in their barbarity.
That some human beings could inflict such suffering on other human beings is hard to comprehend.
Many a tear has been shed since the news first came across the air waves.
The people who were there in Market Street on that fateful day bore the fiercest shock.
They will never forget the horrifying scenes which they witnessed.
Our hearts go out in sympathy to all those who have been so tragically bereaved.
Our prayers are with them and with all those who have been injured. Our profound thanks also must be extended to all those who laboured long and hard, and who are still working, to relieve the suffering and distress - the doctors, surgeons and nurses, the ambulance service, the police, the army, the fire service, the chaplains, all ancillary services, everyone who rushed to the aid of the injured and helped to comfort those who lost loved ones. Omagh's own hospital, the Tyrone County Hospital, the first hospital to minister to the victims, deserves the highest praise, as do all the hospitals involved.
Omagh is a town where all get on well together. On the very day the bombers struck there was taking place a cross-community carnival.
Into this quiet peace-loving community came those who had murder and mayhem in their hearts. Who sent them there is unknown for certain at the time of writing.
One thing is sure and that is that such people have nothing to offer our Province but misery and heartbreak. Unable to persuade people by peaceful political argument they try to dragoon people into their way of thinking by bombing them into submission.
How little they know about the character of our people in Northern Ireland.
Such wanton acts of savagery only makes us more determined than ever not to give in to their bloody campaign.
They are living in the past.
Our community has moved on to chart a better future where all traditions share the responsibility of government, where a peace process has been launched which will not end until the bomb and the bullet have been completely eradicated from Irish society.
One hopes and prays that those who have been so tragically murdered will not have died in vain.
Is it too much to hope that those who perpetrated this dastardly act may themselves be shocked into realising the enormity of it all and so desist from further atrocities?
One thing is sure and that is that the whole community are united in their condemnation and must back our security forces on whatever needs to be done to bring those who committed this dreadful crime to justice. No civilised society can allow such people to be at large.
Many people may be asking "Why does God allow such acts of savagery?" The answer lies in man's free will. It lies in the sinfulness of human nature, a sinfulness which needs to be redeemed by the One who was sent into this world to be our Saviour. The One who was nailed to the Cross by evil men, who suffered and died for our salvation, not only shares the sufferings of the dead and injured, he is also able to lift us out of our despair and keep our feet firmly on the path of peace.
Christ weeps over our Province in these days. He weeps with those whose hearts are broken with grief. He also points us beyond suffering and death to the joy and peace which await all those who put their trust in Him.
There is no other word that describes it. There is no justification for it. It is beyond the comprehension of decent human beings.
The murder of 28 innocent people in Omagh last Saturday has shocked us all.
The injuries inflicted on many others are indescribable in their barbarity.
That some human beings could inflict such suffering on other human beings is hard to comprehend.
Many a tear has been shed since the news first came across the air waves.
The people who were there in Market Street on that fateful day bore the fiercest shock.
They will never forget the horrifying scenes which they witnessed.
Our hearts go out in sympathy to all those who have been so tragically bereaved.
Our prayers are with them and with all those who have been injured. Our profound thanks also must be extended to all those who laboured long and hard, and who are still working, to relieve the suffering and distress - the doctors, surgeons and nurses, the ambulance service, the police, the army, the fire service, the chaplains, all ancillary services, everyone who rushed to the aid of the injured and helped to comfort those who lost loved ones. Omagh's own hospital, the Tyrone County Hospital, the first hospital to minister to the victims, deserves the highest praise, as do all the hospitals involved.
Omagh is a town where all get on well together. On the very day the bombers struck there was taking place a cross-community carnival.
Into this quiet peace-loving community came those who had murder and mayhem in their hearts. Who sent them there is unknown for certain at the time of writing.
One thing is sure and that is that such people have nothing to offer our Province but misery and heartbreak. Unable to persuade people by peaceful political argument they try to dragoon people into their way of thinking by bombing them into submission.
How little they know about the character of our people in Northern Ireland.
Such wanton acts of savagery only makes us more determined than ever not to give in to their bloody campaign.
They are living in the past.
Our community has moved on to chart a better future where all traditions share the responsibility of government, where a peace process has been launched which will not end until the bomb and the bullet have been completely eradicated from Irish society.
One hopes and prays that those who have been so tragically murdered will not have died in vain.
Is it too much to hope that those who perpetrated this dastardly act may themselves be shocked into realising the enormity of it all and so desist from further atrocities?
One thing is sure and that is that the whole community are united in their condemnation and must back our security forces on whatever needs to be done to bring those who committed this dreadful crime to justice. No civilised society can allow such people to be at large.
Many people may be asking "Why does God allow such acts of savagery?" The answer lies in man's free will. It lies in the sinfulness of human nature, a sinfulness which needs to be redeemed by the One who was sent into this world to be our Saviour. The One who was nailed to the Cross by evil men, who suffered and died for our salvation, not only shares the sufferings of the dead and injured, he is also able to lift us out of our despair and keep our feet firmly on the path of peace.
Christ weeps over our Province in these days. He weeps with those whose hearts are broken with grief. He also points us beyond suffering and death to the joy and peace which await all those who put their trust in Him.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0007
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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