THREE CO. DONEGAL BOYS AND SPANISH VISITORS AMONG THE DEAD
Three Co. Donegal boys and Spanish visitors among the dead
JUST three months before he died in the Omagh bomb, 12-year-old Sean McLaughlin, from Buncrana, penned these words:
"Orange and green it does not matter. United now, don't shatter our dream. Scatter the seeds of peace over our land, so we can travel hand in hand across the bridge of hope."
Young Sean was an award-winning poet, who had proudly read his poem about peace to the Irish president, Mary McAleese.
He was on the bus which left Buncrana, carrying over 40 Spanish children and teachers, as well as Irish children from their host families, to visit the Ulster American Folk Park and Omagh town.
Less than half the passengers returned, with the rest seriously injured, hospitalised, or dead.
The bomb claimed the lives of three Irish boys, Sean (12), Oran Michael Doherty (8) and James Victor Barker "(12), all from Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
Spanish student Fernando Blasco Baselga (12), and his teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos (22), also lost their lives in the blast. Eight Spaniards remain in hospital.
Buncrana boys Oran and Sean lived within a few doors of each other.
Little Oran almost did not go on the trip to Omagh, because his mother thought he was too young, but she gave her permission when she heard that his friends were going. It was his first time away from home.
Local priest, Father Shane Bradley, said: "Sean was an altar boy at St Mary's, they were both boys who were always smiling, two very ordinary wee fellas."
Oran's family has been struck by tragedy for the second time this year, as his aunt died of cancer six months ago.
Heartbroken
"Both families are heartbroken. And there is nothing more you can say," said Father Bradley.
Sean and Oran were pupils at Scoil Iosagain, in Buncrana, and school principal, Sinead McLaughlin, is mourning their loss.
"The boys were full of life. Sean was small in stature, but he had a big heart. He was hugely talented in music and drama, and was very popular.
"Oran was only eight years old and soccer was his passion. He was a happy-go-lucky wee boy," she said.
James Barker had moved from England with his family, just ten months ago. They came to Buncrana in pursuit of a better and safer life.
He is survived by his father, Victor, who is English, and mother Donna-Marie, from Derry, sisters Erin-Esther (20) and Estella (14), and brother Oliver Tristan (4).
"They did not want me to touch him in the morgue, but I said I was touching my son," said his mother.
"My one regret is not saying goodbye to James as he turned around to look at me before he left for Omagh.
"Now look what's happened. Life will never be the same now my boy has gone."
The Barker family had been looking after the deceased Spanish student, Fernando, and his sister, Lucrecia. She is still in hospital and will need plastic surgery.
Her parents had sent their children to Buncrana to learn how to speak English. They arrived from Madrid on Sunday, to find one child dead and another with severe head injuries.
Fernando's father, Manuel, was the victim of a terrorist bomb in Spain in 1992. He was hit by shrapnel from a car bomb, which exploded near a Madrid supermarket, in an attack that was blamed on ETA, the Basque extremist group.
Interpreters
To cut down on confusion, the hospitals had to bring in interpreters to take phone calls from frantic Spanish parents.
Father Bradley described the emotional scenes at the mass in St Mary's Oratory on Monday.
"The students were shocked, stunned and confused. Some wanted to stay and some wanted to go," he said.
Spanish students struggled to find English words to describe their feelings after the bomb.
Father Bradley revealed that one of the boys could only say that he was "angry, angry, angry'.
Mr Jimmy McBride, vice-principal of Scoil Iosagain, where the Spanish children came to learn English, said that all the children were traumatised and were receiving counselling.
"They are back with their host families, most of the children wish to stay at least until the Irish kids are buried," he said.
Two of the Spanish leaders are now in hospital, one in Enniskillen, one in Dundonald.
The dead teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos, was on her fifth visit to Ireland. She was engaged to be married.
For 10 years, Spanish students have been coming to Buncrana to learn English, and a day trip to the Folk Park and Omagh has always been on the itinerary.
JUST three months before he died in the Omagh bomb, 12-year-old Sean McLaughlin, from Buncrana, penned these words:
"Orange and green it does not matter. United now, don't shatter our dream. Scatter the seeds of peace over our land, so we can travel hand in hand across the bridge of hope."
Young Sean was an award-winning poet, who had proudly read his poem about peace to the Irish president, Mary McAleese.
He was on the bus which left Buncrana, carrying over 40 Spanish children and teachers, as well as Irish children from their host families, to visit the Ulster American Folk Park and Omagh town.
Less than half the passengers returned, with the rest seriously injured, hospitalised, or dead.
The bomb claimed the lives of three Irish boys, Sean (12), Oran Michael Doherty (8) and James Victor Barker "(12), all from Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
Spanish student Fernando Blasco Baselga (12), and his teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos (22), also lost their lives in the blast. Eight Spaniards remain in hospital.
Buncrana boys Oran and Sean lived within a few doors of each other.
Little Oran almost did not go on the trip to Omagh, because his mother thought he was too young, but she gave her permission when she heard that his friends were going. It was his first time away from home.
Local priest, Father Shane Bradley, said: "Sean was an altar boy at St Mary's, they were both boys who were always smiling, two very ordinary wee fellas."
Oran's family has been struck by tragedy for the second time this year, as his aunt died of cancer six months ago.
Heartbroken
"Both families are heartbroken. And there is nothing more you can say," said Father Bradley.
Sean and Oran were pupils at Scoil Iosagain, in Buncrana, and school principal, Sinead McLaughlin, is mourning their loss.
"The boys were full of life. Sean was small in stature, but he had a big heart. He was hugely talented in music and drama, and was very popular.
"Oran was only eight years old and soccer was his passion. He was a happy-go-lucky wee boy," she said.
James Barker had moved from England with his family, just ten months ago. They came to Buncrana in pursuit of a better and safer life.
He is survived by his father, Victor, who is English, and mother Donna-Marie, from Derry, sisters Erin-Esther (20) and Estella (14), and brother Oliver Tristan (4).
"They did not want me to touch him in the morgue, but I said I was touching my son," said his mother.
"My one regret is not saying goodbye to James as he turned around to look at me before he left for Omagh.
"Now look what's happened. Life will never be the same now my boy has gone."
The Barker family had been looking after the deceased Spanish student, Fernando, and his sister, Lucrecia. She is still in hospital and will need plastic surgery.
Her parents had sent their children to Buncrana to learn how to speak English. They arrived from Madrid on Sunday, to find one child dead and another with severe head injuries.
Fernando's father, Manuel, was the victim of a terrorist bomb in Spain in 1992. He was hit by shrapnel from a car bomb, which exploded near a Madrid supermarket, in an attack that was blamed on ETA, the Basque extremist group.
Interpreters
To cut down on confusion, the hospitals had to bring in interpreters to take phone calls from frantic Spanish parents.
Father Bradley described the emotional scenes at the mass in St Mary's Oratory on Monday.
"The students were shocked, stunned and confused. Some wanted to stay and some wanted to go," he said.
Spanish students struggled to find English words to describe their feelings after the bomb.
Father Bradley revealed that one of the boys could only say that he was "angry, angry, angry'.
Mr Jimmy McBride, vice-principal of Scoil Iosagain, where the Spanish children came to learn English, said that all the children were traumatised and were receiving counselling.
"They are back with their host families, most of the children wish to stay at least until the Irish kids are buried," he said.
Two of the Spanish leaders are now in hospital, one in Enniskillen, one in Dundonald.
The dead teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos, was on her fifth visit to Ireland. She was engaged to be married.
For 10 years, Spanish students have been coming to Buncrana to learn English, and a day trip to the Folk Park and Omagh has always been on the itinerary.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0046
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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