PEOPLE NEED TIME AND SPACE TO GRIEVE
People need time and space to grieve, say Omagh councillors
THE people of Omagh now need time and space to grieve, as the full enormity of Saturday's savagery sinks in, members of Omagh District Council said this week.
Speaking at a Press conference following an emergency meeting of the council on Monday, representatives from the main political parties "collectively condemned" the weekend bombing, which killed 28 people, and left hundreds injured.
They also offered their sincere condolences to all the bereaved families, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
At the outset of the meeting, a minute's silence was held for the bereaved, and sympathy was extended to members, Mr. Oliver Gibson and Mr. Crawford McFarland, who lost relatives in the bomb.
Prayers were then led by vice-chairman, Allan Rainey, before the meeting proper. At the conclusion, each member signed one of the books of condolences opened by the council.
Speaking afterwards, chairman, Mr. Sean Clarke, described the meeting as "very sombre", during which members discussed practical ways the council could help the people of the town and district. He stressed that no political matters had been raised.
Commenting that he felt people had still not come to terms with the extent of the tragedy, he said: "There is not one estate or townland that has not been affected by this whole event.
"It will take a long time for this to sink - the enormity of it all."
Mr. Gibson, whose cousin lost her daughter in the bomb, said the town was in deep grief. Pointing out that this was not the first time Omagh had experienced a bomb, he said the extent of the death toll had brought the quiet provincial town to a level of notoriety.
"There are now hundreds of families in deep grief. People want the opportunity to grieve quietly in their own way. But underneath that, there is a seething anger about what has happened," he said.
It was pointed out by a reporter that one councillor had refused to condemn the bombing, and members were asked if the "ordinary decent people" of the town would ever recover from what had happened.
'In unity'
Mr. Joe Byrne, an SDLP Assemblyman, said the councillors "collectively condemned" the atrocity, and were working "in unity".
"If there is an individual who has a different position, they can explain that outside of here," he said.
"We are attempting to express the solidarity of feeling and outrage at what took place. The families locally now want to be given the space to grieve."
And he said the larger political picture and ramifications were for "another day".
Mr. Paddy McGowan said there was now almost a "stillness and tranquillity" in the town, because, for 36 hours, people had been frantically trying to find out the fate of their loved ones.
"The full extent of this horrendous act is just starting to settle in. It will never be forgotten," he said.
Mr. Rainey said there was anger and rage beneath the surface of grief. But he said if the promises made by both governments, and the First and Second Ministers, to bring those responsible to justice were upheld, then this would go some way to helping people come to terms with the tragedy.
"Until they see that happen, people will remain disgruntled. I feel an all-out effort will be made this time to bring the people responsible to justice," he said.
'Broken promises'
Mr. Gibson said the anger felt by people was directed against the Government and its "broken promies".
"Prime Minister after Prime Minister have made the same statements about how justice is going to be dealt out," he said.
But there were 480 "experts" in explosives who were going to be released from jail into society, he said.
Yesterday was a day of great promises and pledges, but there has been no difference in what has already been said before," he said.
"There is a man living in Dundalk openly, who is one of these 'experts', and has no compunction about killing. Yet he is still walking about free.
He said his family was grieving like every other family, and did not want to have microphones "down our throats".
"We want to bury our people with dignity, but in time the two governments will be made fully aware of what the people of this town demand," he added.
Mr. Johnny McLaughlin said the community needed time and peace to mourn in a dignified manner, while Mrs. Ann Gormley said the meeting was conducted with great dignity - a dignity that was being reflected in homes of the bereaved and injured.
She added: "This is not the time for recriminations and blame. People need time to mourn, to heal. There is a shattered community out there."
THE people of Omagh now need time and space to grieve, as the full enormity of Saturday's savagery sinks in, members of Omagh District Council said this week.
Speaking at a Press conference following an emergency meeting of the council on Monday, representatives from the main political parties "collectively condemned" the weekend bombing, which killed 28 people, and left hundreds injured.
They also offered their sincere condolences to all the bereaved families, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
At the outset of the meeting, a minute's silence was held for the bereaved, and sympathy was extended to members, Mr. Oliver Gibson and Mr. Crawford McFarland, who lost relatives in the bomb.
Prayers were then led by vice-chairman, Allan Rainey, before the meeting proper. At the conclusion, each member signed one of the books of condolences opened by the council.
Speaking afterwards, chairman, Mr. Sean Clarke, described the meeting as "very sombre", during which members discussed practical ways the council could help the people of the town and district. He stressed that no political matters had been raised.
Commenting that he felt people had still not come to terms with the extent of the tragedy, he said: "There is not one estate or townland that has not been affected by this whole event.
"It will take a long time for this to sink - the enormity of it all."
Mr. Gibson, whose cousin lost her daughter in the bomb, said the town was in deep grief. Pointing out that this was not the first time Omagh had experienced a bomb, he said the extent of the death toll had brought the quiet provincial town to a level of notoriety.
"There are now hundreds of families in deep grief. People want the opportunity to grieve quietly in their own way. But underneath that, there is a seething anger about what has happened," he said.
It was pointed out by a reporter that one councillor had refused to condemn the bombing, and members were asked if the "ordinary decent people" of the town would ever recover from what had happened.
'In unity'
Mr. Joe Byrne, an SDLP Assemblyman, said the councillors "collectively condemned" the atrocity, and were working "in unity".
"If there is an individual who has a different position, they can explain that outside of here," he said.
"We are attempting to express the solidarity of feeling and outrage at what took place. The families locally now want to be given the space to grieve."
And he said the larger political picture and ramifications were for "another day".
Mr. Paddy McGowan said there was now almost a "stillness and tranquillity" in the town, because, for 36 hours, people had been frantically trying to find out the fate of their loved ones.
"The full extent of this horrendous act is just starting to settle in. It will never be forgotten," he said.
Mr. Rainey said there was anger and rage beneath the surface of grief. But he said if the promises made by both governments, and the First and Second Ministers, to bring those responsible to justice were upheld, then this would go some way to helping people come to terms with the tragedy.
"Until they see that happen, people will remain disgruntled. I feel an all-out effort will be made this time to bring the people responsible to justice," he said.
'Broken promises'
Mr. Gibson said the anger felt by people was directed against the Government and its "broken promies".
"Prime Minister after Prime Minister have made the same statements about how justice is going to be dealt out," he said.
But there were 480 "experts" in explosives who were going to be released from jail into society, he said.
Yesterday was a day of great promises and pledges, but there has been no difference in what has already been said before," he said.
"There is a man living in Dundalk openly, who is one of these 'experts', and has no compunction about killing. Yet he is still walking about free.
He said his family was grieving like every other family, and did not want to have microphones "down our throats".
"We want to bury our people with dignity, but in time the two governments will be made fully aware of what the people of this town demand," he added.
Mr. Johnny McLaughlin said the community needed time and peace to mourn in a dignified manner, while Mrs. Ann Gormley said the meeting was conducted with great dignity - a dignity that was being reflected in homes of the bereaved and injured.
She added: "This is not the time for recriminations and blame. People need time to mourn, to heal. There is a shattered community out there."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0098
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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