SECOND TRAGEDY FOR OMAGH FAMILY
SECOND TRAGEDY FOR OMAGH FAMILY
For the Gallagher family of Circular Road. Omagh, the death of 21-year-old Adrian was a second tragedy.
His uncle, Hugh, was shot dead by the IRA while working as a taxi driver in Omagh in 1984. He had been a part-time member of the UDR.
Mr. Michael Gallagher said he doubted whether he or his wife, Patricia, would ever come to terms with the death of Adrian.
He said they really did not understand what was happening.
"I don't know if we'll have the strength to bear up," he said.
"Friends and family have been the mainstay, and basically that is what is keeping us going," he said.
Adrian Gallagher went to the town centre with a friend to buy jeans. His friend was badly injured.
"I had a good idea that Adrian was near the seat of the explosion because his friend was quite badly burned. I thought that when the friend survived, Adrian would also have survived," his father said.
He described his son as a sturdily-built young man who enjoyed life and did not take anything too seriously.
While fearing for the worst, the Gallaghers hoped for the best.
They checked with the Leisure Centre emergency room, but could not find his name on any of the lists of injured.
Adrian would never have been involved in any trouble, Mr. Gallagher said, and was no trouble to his family.
"It seems unreal that he should die with so little meaning. He never really had a chance to achieve anything. He had a lot more to give," said Mr. Gallagher.
He was a king-hearted and warm person and was fun to be with, he added.
Adrian had two sisters, Sharon and Kathleen. They, and their mother, Patricia, phoned the various hospitals to check for him, but when Mr. Gallagher came in alone at about 3.30am, they say they knew the worst had happened.
"He just came in and threw his arms around mummy and we just cried," said Sharon.
She described those responsible for the bomb as "worse than animals".
"They did not care, they have no conscience," she said.
The fact that the family had already gone through a tragedy did not make it any easier, Mr. Gallagher said.
"It makes it worse because we know it is all so futile." Mr. Gallagher said.
All five members of the Gallagher family - including Adrian - voted 'yes' at the Referendum.
Mr. Gallagher said they did so because they wanted peace, and despite what has happened they would not change.
"We will never regret voting for peace. We would not even think about it. It would be as insult to the memory of the decent people who died to think otherwise," he added.
For the Gallagher family of Circular Road. Omagh, the death of 21-year-old Adrian was a second tragedy.
His uncle, Hugh, was shot dead by the IRA while working as a taxi driver in Omagh in 1984. He had been a part-time member of the UDR.
Mr. Michael Gallagher said he doubted whether he or his wife, Patricia, would ever come to terms with the death of Adrian.
He said they really did not understand what was happening.
"I don't know if we'll have the strength to bear up," he said.
"Friends and family have been the mainstay, and basically that is what is keeping us going," he said.
Adrian Gallagher went to the town centre with a friend to buy jeans. His friend was badly injured.
"I had a good idea that Adrian was near the seat of the explosion because his friend was quite badly burned. I thought that when the friend survived, Adrian would also have survived," his father said.
He described his son as a sturdily-built young man who enjoyed life and did not take anything too seriously.
While fearing for the worst, the Gallaghers hoped for the best.
They checked with the Leisure Centre emergency room, but could not find his name on any of the lists of injured.
Adrian would never have been involved in any trouble, Mr. Gallagher said, and was no trouble to his family.
"It seems unreal that he should die with so little meaning. He never really had a chance to achieve anything. He had a lot more to give," said Mr. Gallagher.
He was a king-hearted and warm person and was fun to be with, he added.
Adrian had two sisters, Sharon and Kathleen. They, and their mother, Patricia, phoned the various hospitals to check for him, but when Mr. Gallagher came in alone at about 3.30am, they say they knew the worst had happened.
"He just came in and threw his arms around mummy and we just cried," said Sharon.
She described those responsible for the bomb as "worse than animals".
"They did not care, they have no conscience," she said.
The fact that the family had already gone through a tragedy did not make it any easier, Mr. Gallagher said.
"It makes it worse because we know it is all so futile." Mr. Gallagher said.
All five members of the Gallagher family - including Adrian - voted 'yes' at the Referendum.
Mr. Gallagher said they did so because they wanted peace, and despite what has happened they would not change.
"We will never regret voting for peace. We would not even think about it. It would be as insult to the memory of the decent people who died to think otherwise," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0056
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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