INJURED NEWSAGENT TELLS OF A LUCKY ESCAPE
Injured newsagent tells of a lucky escape
THE owner of a newsagents shop injured in Saturday's bomb blast said he owed his life to a follow businessman.
Mr. James Sharkey said he was standing at the doorway of his shop, talking to Robert Watson, from Classic Menswear, when the 500lb bomb exploded only yards away across the street."Robert was blown on top of me, and only for that I fear I would have been killed or seriously injured. I am a very lucky man," he told one of our reporters on Sunday evening.
Mr. Sharkey, whose right arm was in a sling, suffered a shrapnel and blast wound to the elbow and he said doctors believed his ear drums may be perforated.
And his teenage daughter, Anita, who was working in the dry cleaners next door, also received minor injuries. Her right arm was also in a sling.
"My dad and I are counting ourselves very lucky," she said.
Mr. Sharkey said the scene which met him when he staggered out of his shop was one of horror and carnage.
"It was like a battlefield. Bodies were strewn about and the air was filled with smoke. It was just terrible," he added.
He said when he got onto the street he collapsed and was helped away from the scene.
"I will never forget what I saw. Those poor people lying on the streets, it was just horrendous," he added.
Mr. Sharkey said he was angry at what had happened, and sad for all the people who lost their lives, some of who were known very well to him.
"They talk about a peace process. This is what the peace process is about. People are dead and many others badly injured because of the peace process," he said.
He said he had voted Yes in the Referendum, but if he had to do it again he would definitely be voting no.
"The Government is not running this country, it is the terrorists," he said.
THE owner of a newsagents shop injured in Saturday's bomb blast said he owed his life to a follow businessman.
Mr. James Sharkey said he was standing at the doorway of his shop, talking to Robert Watson, from Classic Menswear, when the 500lb bomb exploded only yards away across the street."Robert was blown on top of me, and only for that I fear I would have been killed or seriously injured. I am a very lucky man," he told one of our reporters on Sunday evening.
Mr. Sharkey, whose right arm was in a sling, suffered a shrapnel and blast wound to the elbow and he said doctors believed his ear drums may be perforated.
And his teenage daughter, Anita, who was working in the dry cleaners next door, also received minor injuries. Her right arm was also in a sling.
"My dad and I are counting ourselves very lucky," she said.
Mr. Sharkey said the scene which met him when he staggered out of his shop was one of horror and carnage.
"It was like a battlefield. Bodies were strewn about and the air was filled with smoke. It was just terrible," he added.
He said when he got onto the street he collapsed and was helped away from the scene.
"I will never forget what I saw. Those poor people lying on the streets, it was just horrendous," he added.
Mr. Sharkey said he was angry at what had happened, and sad for all the people who lost their lives, some of who were known very well to him.
"They talk about a peace process. This is what the peace process is about. People are dead and many others badly injured because of the peace process," he said.
He said he had voted Yes in the Referendum, but if he had to do it again he would definitely be voting no.
"The Government is not running this country, it is the terrorists," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0021
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
