PRINCE OF WALES SHATTERED BY TRAGEDY
PRINCE OF WALES 'SHATTERED' BY THE APPALLING TRAGEDY
THE bomb blast in Omagh was an appalling tragedy, the Prince of Wales said when he visited the town on Tuesday.
He said he was appalled and shattered as so many others were, and said that he had some understanding of what the bereaved were going through, having experienced that himself at the murder of his uncle, Lord Mountbatten.
The visit to Omagh also brought back memories of the similar visit he had paid to Enniskillen following the Remembrance Day blast.
And, later, after visiting Tyrone County Hospital, he paid tribute to those he had met there.
"One thing I have noticed is that out of such a dreadful tragedy comes so often the best of people," he told reporters.
"I think we have an enormous amount to be grateful for in terms of the Army, police and medical services who make such a difference for those of us who mind about civilised values, something very special," he added.
The Duke and Duchess of Abercorn met the Prince when he arrived by helicopter at Lisanelly Amy Camp, accompanied by the Secretary of State, Dr. Mo Mowlam.
He was then driven a short distance for a private meeting with representatives of the emergency services who had been called upon on Saturday. Outside, he was met by the High Sheriff of Co. Tyrone, Capt. Gerald Caldecott and Mrs. Caldecott, Omagh District Council vice-chairman, Mr. Allan Rainey, its chief executive Mr. John McKinney and his wife, Omagh police sub-division commander, Supt. James Baxter, Colonel Colin Heron, deputy brigade commander, and Lt. Col. David James, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment, which is currently on duty at Lisanelly.
After the meeting, an escort of RUC motorcycle outriders led the Prince to the Courthouse hill, where he was met by the First Minister, Mr. David Trimble, the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Seamus Mallon, and West Tyrone MP, Mr. William Thompson.
After hearing of the work of staff in the emergency co-ordination centre, he took time to meet some of the hundreds of people who lined the streets.
Listened
Stopping frequently to shake hands, he listened carefully to their views.
One of those he met was Mr. George Carmichael, menswear department buyer at Watterson's drapery shop.
Afterwards, Mr. Carmichael said: "He asked me why I had come, and I said I had lost three colleagues and friends in the blast. He asked me to pass on to their families his sympathy and regards".
Mr. Carmichael said he found Prince Charles to be very approachable.
'He also spoke to retired Beragh schoolteacher, Mrs. Evelyn Mulligan (62), who lost two friends in the blast.
She told him: "You have raised our morale".
He also met newsagent, Mr. Jim Sharkey, who was hurt in the blast.
Mr. Sharkey told him he would have had more serious injuries had a friend not pushed him back into his shop. The Prince told him: "You have had a miraculous escape".
The Prince then signed a book of condolence outside Watterson's shop.
He was then driven to Drumragh Avenue where he laid a wreath made up from flowers picked from his own garden.
He then moved on to the bomb scene, where he spoke to Detective Superintendent Eric Anderson, who is leading the RUC's special task force investigating the murders.
The detective superintendent is one of the RUC's most experienced investigators, and led the team which successfully prosecuted the Ballykelly pub murderers.
He then moved on to the County Hospital for a private meeting with staff and patients.
THE bomb blast in Omagh was an appalling tragedy, the Prince of Wales said when he visited the town on Tuesday.
He said he was appalled and shattered as so many others were, and said that he had some understanding of what the bereaved were going through, having experienced that himself at the murder of his uncle, Lord Mountbatten.
The visit to Omagh also brought back memories of the similar visit he had paid to Enniskillen following the Remembrance Day blast.
And, later, after visiting Tyrone County Hospital, he paid tribute to those he had met there.
"One thing I have noticed is that out of such a dreadful tragedy comes so often the best of people," he told reporters.
"I think we have an enormous amount to be grateful for in terms of the Army, police and medical services who make such a difference for those of us who mind about civilised values, something very special," he added.
The Duke and Duchess of Abercorn met the Prince when he arrived by helicopter at Lisanelly Amy Camp, accompanied by the Secretary of State, Dr. Mo Mowlam.
He was then driven a short distance for a private meeting with representatives of the emergency services who had been called upon on Saturday. Outside, he was met by the High Sheriff of Co. Tyrone, Capt. Gerald Caldecott and Mrs. Caldecott, Omagh District Council vice-chairman, Mr. Allan Rainey, its chief executive Mr. John McKinney and his wife, Omagh police sub-division commander, Supt. James Baxter, Colonel Colin Heron, deputy brigade commander, and Lt. Col. David James, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment, which is currently on duty at Lisanelly.
After the meeting, an escort of RUC motorcycle outriders led the Prince to the Courthouse hill, where he was met by the First Minister, Mr. David Trimble, the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Seamus Mallon, and West Tyrone MP, Mr. William Thompson.
After hearing of the work of staff in the emergency co-ordination centre, he took time to meet some of the hundreds of people who lined the streets.
Listened
Stopping frequently to shake hands, he listened carefully to their views.
One of those he met was Mr. George Carmichael, menswear department buyer at Watterson's drapery shop.
Afterwards, Mr. Carmichael said: "He asked me why I had come, and I said I had lost three colleagues and friends in the blast. He asked me to pass on to their families his sympathy and regards".
Mr. Carmichael said he found Prince Charles to be very approachable.
'He also spoke to retired Beragh schoolteacher, Mrs. Evelyn Mulligan (62), who lost two friends in the blast.
She told him: "You have raised our morale".
He also met newsagent, Mr. Jim Sharkey, who was hurt in the blast.
Mr. Sharkey told him he would have had more serious injuries had a friend not pushed him back into his shop. The Prince told him: "You have had a miraculous escape".
The Prince then signed a book of condolence outside Watterson's shop.
He was then driven to Drumragh Avenue where he laid a wreath made up from flowers picked from his own garden.
He then moved on to the bomb scene, where he spoke to Detective Superintendent Eric Anderson, who is leading the RUC's special task force investigating the murders.
The detective superintendent is one of the RUC's most experienced investigators, and led the team which successfully prosecuted the Ballykelly pub murderers.
He then moved on to the County Hospital for a private meeting with staff and patients.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0031
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
