STAFF SHATTERED AT DEATH AND INJURY OF FOUR WORKERS
Staff 'family' shattered by death and injury of four model workers
These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff
Mrs Geraldine Breslin
Mrs Ann McCombe
Mrs Veda Short
who so tragically died on Saturday 15th August 1998
Tom & Maretta Watterson
ONE business suffered more than most in Saturday's horrendous bombing in Omagh town centre.
The 27-strong staff of Watterson's, the High Street drapers, was devastated by the 5001b of explosives which ripped through the town. Three staff, described by proprietor, Mr. Tom Watterson, as totally dedicated, were killed, and another, Mrs. Doreen Preston, grievously injured.
"As a family-run business, we, personally, have had three precious members taken from us. Within the shop we were all a family in the true sense of the word, we all enjoyed each other's company, and worked side by side daily to make sure the business succeeded."
"We have lost three respected members of staff, Mrs. Geraldine Breslin, Mrs. Ann McCombe and Mrs. Veda Short, and also have one, Doreen Preston, critically ill in Altnagelvin Hospital," said Mr. Watterson.
Mrs. Preston, who is 50, is the longest serving of the four, having joined the business 26 years ago, and Mrs. Short, a mother of four and grandmother of three, was the oldest at 56.
She had worked for Watterson's for 20 years, many of them as the buyer for the firm's hosiery and lingerie department, and was about to join Mr. and Mrs. Watterson on a buying trip to London.
Mrs. Short and Mrs. Preston were close friends, who regularly shared their meal breaks.
Mrs. Breslin, a Roman Catholic, and Mrs. McCombe, a Protestant, had each been members of staff for 10 years, but Mr. Watterson said no one cared about such things as religion in his shop.
"All four were model staff, utterly dedicated, dependable and trustworthy. Everything good about people they had it. They were sensible, hard-working, and always perfectly dressed," he said.
"Like all the staff here, they ran the shop as if it were their own. They were a great bunch."
The 60-year-old business was opened by Mr. Watterson's father and uncle, and he assumed control of it in 1964 when his father died. He has since been joined as a partner in the company by his wife, Maretta, a former nurse.
'Skills'
Mr. Watterson said: "These four ladies were particularly suited for the positions they held. Their sales and management skills were evident every hour of every day, and their interest and care for each one of us, who had the privilege of working with them, were outstanding and will remain a precious memory to us."
He said, too, that the four women's interest in, and attention given to, all his customers had been exceptional.
"It is evident how highly respected they were regarded by the public from the outpouring of grief and sympathy that has already been expressed," added Mr. Watterson.
Continuing, he said the women's knowledge of, and interest in, the well-being of each customer and their families had been remarkable.
Mr. Watterson went on: "They always showed care and concern for people's health and problems, and loved to share their joys and successes.
"Our deep sense of sorrow and loss is beyond words. We earnestly pray for a return to health for Doreen, and look forward to her return to work in the future."
And Mr. Watterson said the sense of sorrow among the management and remaining members of staff was only surpassed by the tragic loss and hurt felt by the families of the four women.
He said: "We have lost a great team of girls who worked and laughed together, and tragically, died together, but each one had a loving family which has now been torn apart. They are heartbroken.
'Devastated'
"We are devastated, and our prayers are with the bereaved families at this time, Mark Breslin and Gareth, Stanley McCombe, Clive and Colan, William Short, Frances, Ian, Elaine and Alison.
The management and staff of Watterson's also expressed sincere condolences to all the other bereaved families both in the area and abroad, and wished all the many hospitalised people full recoveries from their horrific injuries.
"Many of them were known to us and were customers, and we earnestly trust it will not be long before they are returned to their families in full health," said Mr. Watterson.
Watterson's had been evacuated immediately the alarm went out, and staff, in accordance with usual practice, were ushered through a rear door to a car-parking area at the back of the premises.
Unfortunately the four women had been on lunch break, and had been urged by police to move down Market Street, where they are believed to have huddled close to what turned out to be the car carrying the deadly cargo of explosives. Mrs. Watterson, who worked in the Royal Victoria Hospital throughout the Troubles, said: "We had people coming in with bomb blast injuries all the time, but this was different. This was a complete massacre of the innocents."
Mr. Watterson said he did not know what was in the bombers' minds, adding: "If an atrocity like this helps some cause it is surely an evil cause."
Reflecting on the anguish of reopening, he said it would be very difficult time for everyone with so many good staff gone.
"They were loyal and lovely people, and had a great rapport with the customers, who thought the world of them," said Mr. Watterson, whose shop front, awash with bouquets of flowers, underscored the tribute.
These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff
Mrs Geraldine Breslin
Mrs Ann McCombe
Mrs Veda Short
who so tragically died on Saturday 15th August 1998
Tom & Maretta Watterson
ONE business suffered more than most in Saturday's horrendous bombing in Omagh town centre.
The 27-strong staff of Watterson's, the High Street drapers, was devastated by the 5001b of explosives which ripped through the town. Three staff, described by proprietor, Mr. Tom Watterson, as totally dedicated, were killed, and another, Mrs. Doreen Preston, grievously injured.
"As a family-run business, we, personally, have had three precious members taken from us. Within the shop we were all a family in the true sense of the word, we all enjoyed each other's company, and worked side by side daily to make sure the business succeeded."
"We have lost three respected members of staff, Mrs. Geraldine Breslin, Mrs. Ann McCombe and Mrs. Veda Short, and also have one, Doreen Preston, critically ill in Altnagelvin Hospital," said Mr. Watterson.
Mrs. Preston, who is 50, is the longest serving of the four, having joined the business 26 years ago, and Mrs. Short, a mother of four and grandmother of three, was the oldest at 56.
She had worked for Watterson's for 20 years, many of them as the buyer for the firm's hosiery and lingerie department, and was about to join Mr. and Mrs. Watterson on a buying trip to London.
Mrs. Short and Mrs. Preston were close friends, who regularly shared their meal breaks.
Mrs. Breslin, a Roman Catholic, and Mrs. McCombe, a Protestant, had each been members of staff for 10 years, but Mr. Watterson said no one cared about such things as religion in his shop.
"All four were model staff, utterly dedicated, dependable and trustworthy. Everything good about people they had it. They were sensible, hard-working, and always perfectly dressed," he said.
"Like all the staff here, they ran the shop as if it were their own. They were a great bunch."
The 60-year-old business was opened by Mr. Watterson's father and uncle, and he assumed control of it in 1964 when his father died. He has since been joined as a partner in the company by his wife, Maretta, a former nurse.
'Skills'
Mr. Watterson said: "These four ladies were particularly suited for the positions they held. Their sales and management skills were evident every hour of every day, and their interest and care for each one of us, who had the privilege of working with them, were outstanding and will remain a precious memory to us."
He said, too, that the four women's interest in, and attention given to, all his customers had been exceptional.
"It is evident how highly respected they were regarded by the public from the outpouring of grief and sympathy that has already been expressed," added Mr. Watterson.
Continuing, he said the women's knowledge of, and interest in, the well-being of each customer and their families had been remarkable.
Mr. Watterson went on: "They always showed care and concern for people's health and problems, and loved to share their joys and successes.
"Our deep sense of sorrow and loss is beyond words. We earnestly pray for a return to health for Doreen, and look forward to her return to work in the future."
And Mr. Watterson said the sense of sorrow among the management and remaining members of staff was only surpassed by the tragic loss and hurt felt by the families of the four women.
He said: "We have lost a great team of girls who worked and laughed together, and tragically, died together, but each one had a loving family which has now been torn apart. They are heartbroken.
'Devastated'
"We are devastated, and our prayers are with the bereaved families at this time, Mark Breslin and Gareth, Stanley McCombe, Clive and Colan, William Short, Frances, Ian, Elaine and Alison.
The management and staff of Watterson's also expressed sincere condolences to all the other bereaved families both in the area and abroad, and wished all the many hospitalised people full recoveries from their horrific injuries.
"Many of them were known to us and were customers, and we earnestly trust it will not be long before they are returned to their families in full health," said Mr. Watterson.
Watterson's had been evacuated immediately the alarm went out, and staff, in accordance with usual practice, were ushered through a rear door to a car-parking area at the back of the premises.
Unfortunately the four women had been on lunch break, and had been urged by police to move down Market Street, where they are believed to have huddled close to what turned out to be the car carrying the deadly cargo of explosives. Mrs. Watterson, who worked in the Royal Victoria Hospital throughout the Troubles, said: "We had people coming in with bomb blast injuries all the time, but this was different. This was a complete massacre of the innocents."
Mr. Watterson said he did not know what was in the bombers' minds, adding: "If an atrocity like this helps some cause it is surely an evil cause."
Reflecting on the anguish of reopening, he said it would be very difficult time for everyone with so many good staff gone.
"They were loyal and lovely people, and had a great rapport with the customers, who thought the world of them," said Mr. Watterson, whose shop front, awash with bouquets of flowers, underscored the tribute.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0064
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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