CHURCH LEADERS LEND THEIR SUPPORT
Church leaders lend their support
THE President of the Methodist Church of Ireland, Rev. David Kerr, said he was "appalled" at the extent of the murder and injury to ordinary innocent people in the Omagh bombing.
And he has called on those who carried out the atrocity to cease their "mindless campaign of violence".
Mr. Kerr was in the town on Sunday to take the service at Omagh Methodist Church. Two members of the Omagh and Fintona Circuit, Julia Hughes and Olive Hawkes, were among those who lost their lives in Saturday's carnage.
The Methodist President said: "I am shocked, outraged and saddened by the mindless and savage violence which has been visited on the peaceful town of Omagh."
He went on: "I extend the sympathy of the Methodist community throughout Ireland to those who have been so cruelly bereaved and injured.
"In the name of common humanity, I call on these people who have carried out this barbaric act, to cease their mindless campaign of violence."
Mr. Kerr also appealed for calm and restraint, and urged all politicians and people of influence to do "all in their power to carry out the democratic wishes of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is expressed by the Good Friday Agreement".
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr. John Dixon, was also in Omagh on Sunday to lend his support, and preached at First Omagh Presbyterian Church.
He was welcomed by the minister, Rev. John Murdoch. Scripture lessons were taken by Rev. Robert Herron, minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Dixon told the congregation that the entire Presbyterian Church stood with the people of Omagh, and that they were in the thoughts and prayers of all Presbyterians in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
He said he came to Omagh with a heavy heart, saying everyone in the entire island was united in sympathy and grief after the savage, evil atrocity visited upon the community.
"As the days pass into weeks, we shall not easily forget and fail to remember you," he said.
He went to offer sympathy to those who were bereaved, and those who were injured in the bomb attack.
'Devastating'
Rev. Robert Herron, of Trinity Presbyterian Church, described the scenes in Omagh at the weekend as "devastating".
"It is hard to deal with this on a personal level. Even those whose injuries are not so serious are still trying to come to terms with the shock. They are suffering emotionally, as well as physically," he said.
Mr. Herron said that although none of his congregation had been killed, a number were injured.
"Who knows what motive can lead someone to commit such a deed. It is beyond comprehension. It is an act of inhumanity," he said.
Meanwhile, Rev. Norman Harrison, minister of Clogherney Presbyterian Church, said he was devastated by what had happened on Saturday, but was heartened by the strength of the community support.
He said the clergy, whatever their denomination, worked together at the weekend to help in whatever way they could.
"There is no sense of two different communities, but one community united in common grief. We will not be defeated. We will not be forced apart," said Mr. Harrison, who added that he hoped this would be the last atrocity, the last killing in the name of a political goal.
THE President of the Methodist Church of Ireland, Rev. David Kerr, said he was "appalled" at the extent of the murder and injury to ordinary innocent people in the Omagh bombing.
And he has called on those who carried out the atrocity to cease their "mindless campaign of violence".
Mr. Kerr was in the town on Sunday to take the service at Omagh Methodist Church. Two members of the Omagh and Fintona Circuit, Julia Hughes and Olive Hawkes, were among those who lost their lives in Saturday's carnage.
The Methodist President said: "I am shocked, outraged and saddened by the mindless and savage violence which has been visited on the peaceful town of Omagh."
He went on: "I extend the sympathy of the Methodist community throughout Ireland to those who have been so cruelly bereaved and injured.
"In the name of common humanity, I call on these people who have carried out this barbaric act, to cease their mindless campaign of violence."
Mr. Kerr also appealed for calm and restraint, and urged all politicians and people of influence to do "all in their power to carry out the democratic wishes of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is expressed by the Good Friday Agreement".
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr. John Dixon, was also in Omagh on Sunday to lend his support, and preached at First Omagh Presbyterian Church.
He was welcomed by the minister, Rev. John Murdoch. Scripture lessons were taken by Rev. Robert Herron, minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Dixon told the congregation that the entire Presbyterian Church stood with the people of Omagh, and that they were in the thoughts and prayers of all Presbyterians in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
He said he came to Omagh with a heavy heart, saying everyone in the entire island was united in sympathy and grief after the savage, evil atrocity visited upon the community.
"As the days pass into weeks, we shall not easily forget and fail to remember you," he said.
He went to offer sympathy to those who were bereaved, and those who were injured in the bomb attack.
'Devastating'
Rev. Robert Herron, of Trinity Presbyterian Church, described the scenes in Omagh at the weekend as "devastating".
"It is hard to deal with this on a personal level. Even those whose injuries are not so serious are still trying to come to terms with the shock. They are suffering emotionally, as well as physically," he said.
Mr. Herron said that although none of his congregation had been killed, a number were injured.
"Who knows what motive can lead someone to commit such a deed. It is beyond comprehension. It is an act of inhumanity," he said.
Meanwhile, Rev. Norman Harrison, minister of Clogherney Presbyterian Church, said he was devastated by what had happened on Saturday, but was heartened by the strength of the community support.
He said the clergy, whatever their denomination, worked together at the weekend to help in whatever way they could.
"There is no sense of two different communities, but one community united in common grief. We will not be defeated. We will not be forced apart," said Mr. Harrison, who added that he hoped this would be the last atrocity, the last killing in the name of a political goal.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0010
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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