ROOF CAVED IN ON ME - BUSINESSMAN
ROOF CAVED IN ON ME - BUSINESSMAN
Businessman, Clarke Shiels, was in the office of his premises at the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road when the bomb went off.
"My office is about 20 yards from where the bomb exploded. Fortunately I had my back to the wall working on my computer and I think that saved me. Had I been three or four feet further up I would have been seriously injured, if not killed.
He said he was aware there was a bomb alert.
"Everyone had moved to our end of the town, believing the bomb to be in High Street or near the courthouse," he said.
"The roof caved in on me and I managed to get out and no more. At one point I was thinking of jumping out through the window or climbing out through it at least but I managed to get out through the back exit.
"I had a number of cuts for which I received stitches in the back of my head and my forehead and a number of minor puncture bruises to my body.
"A man, whose name I did not get, kindly gave myself and a few others a lift down to Erne Hospital for we knew there was no hope, and did not expect any attention, at Tyrone County Hospital for there were people whose state was far worse that ours who needed attention more urgently.
He said he did not have any real impression of what was going on in the street.
"I have been hearing about it since, but I only managed to pick up a quarter of what I could see. I was bleeding very profusely and I could not get the bleeding stopped and I was anxious to get this attended to,
He said his staff were OK, though one who had gone off duty sustained a foot injury and had been taken to hospital in Belfast.
Businessman, Clarke Shiels, was in the office of his premises at the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road when the bomb went off.
"My office is about 20 yards from where the bomb exploded. Fortunately I had my back to the wall working on my computer and I think that saved me. Had I been three or four feet further up I would have been seriously injured, if not killed.
He said he was aware there was a bomb alert.
"Everyone had moved to our end of the town, believing the bomb to be in High Street or near the courthouse," he said.
"The roof caved in on me and I managed to get out and no more. At one point I was thinking of jumping out through the window or climbing out through it at least but I managed to get out through the back exit.
"I had a number of cuts for which I received stitches in the back of my head and my forehead and a number of minor puncture bruises to my body.
"A man, whose name I did not get, kindly gave myself and a few others a lift down to Erne Hospital for we knew there was no hope, and did not expect any attention, at Tyrone County Hospital for there were people whose state was far worse that ours who needed attention more urgently.
He said he did not have any real impression of what was going on in the street.
"I have been hearing about it since, but I only managed to pick up a quarter of what I could see. I was bleeding very profusely and I could not get the bleeding stopped and I was anxious to get this attended to,
He said his staff were OK, though one who had gone off duty sustained a foot injury and had been taken to hospital in Belfast.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0017
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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