BODIES EVERYWHERE - IT WAS HORRENDOUS
Bodies everywhere - it was horrendous'
Omagh councillor, Mr. Paddy McGowan, was driving along Drumragh Avenue when the bomb went off.
He told a Tyrone Constitution reporter: "The car rocked off the ground and there was a massive flash and a mass of smoke went up.
"I abandoned the car, because everyone had stopped completely. We ran to the corner and ran into the carnage.
"It was absolute sheer horror, between injured people running in all directions and bodies everywhere.
"There were bodies in the foot-path and bodies still in the buildings. It was horrendous.
"We were on the scene almost before anyone, and before the emergency services had arrived. I hijacked an Ulsterbus coming across the bridge. We took the bus and as many as we could get onto it and sent as many as we could in two Ulsterbuses to the hospital.
"Anyone who could walk at all, even with minor injures we got them onto the bus to get them to the hospital quickly.
"I have seen bombs in in Omagh in my time with the fire service over 25 years, this is the worst carnage I have ever seen."
He said the street was packed with shoppers. It was "sheer lunacy" to set off a bomb at the place and at that time, Mr. McGowan said.
Omagh councillor, Mr. Paddy McGowan, was driving along Drumragh Avenue when the bomb went off.
He told a Tyrone Constitution reporter: "The car rocked off the ground and there was a massive flash and a mass of smoke went up.
"I abandoned the car, because everyone had stopped completely. We ran to the corner and ran into the carnage.
"It was absolute sheer horror, between injured people running in all directions and bodies everywhere.
"There were bodies in the foot-path and bodies still in the buildings. It was horrendous.
"We were on the scene almost before anyone, and before the emergency services had arrived. I hijacked an Ulsterbus coming across the bridge. We took the bus and as many as we could get onto it and sent as many as we could in two Ulsterbuses to the hospital.
"Anyone who could walk at all, even with minor injures we got them onto the bus to get them to the hospital quickly.
"I have seen bombs in in Omagh in my time with the fire service over 25 years, this is the worst carnage I have ever seen."
He said the street was packed with shoppers. It was "sheer lunacy" to set off a bomb at the place and at that time, Mr. McGowan said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0085
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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