NO TRAINING COULD HAVE PREPARED RUC OFFICERS FOR CARNAGE WITNESSED
No training in the world could have prepared RUC officers for carnage
"A TRAGEDY that the people of Omagh will not seek to forget quickly, nor will they want to," is how Superintendent James Baxter, the local RUC sub-divisional commander, described the horror that was wreaked in the town on Saturday afternoon, August 15.
Supt. Baxter, who has visited a number of the bereaved and injured in a personal capacity since the bombing, said on Tuesday that he was "totally appalled" by what he had seen in Market Street after the bombing.
And he has paid tribute to his police officers, members of the public, and all the emergency services, who came to the aid of the injured.
The superintendent had not been in Omagh when the bomb went off, but travelled there as soon as he heard the news, and went immediately to the scene.
"I was totally appalled by what I saw - the loss of life and the injuries that were inflicted on the people of this area," he said.
''I found that the police officers at the scene did a tremendous job in helping the injured, and treated those who were killed in a most compassionate way and with great dignity.
"The response overall by the public and the emergency services - ambulance, fire, hospital staff, social services, and all involved - was excellent. The support and co-operation could not have been better."
Supt. Baxter went on: "The entire community pulled together at a time of the greatest need and greatest grief in this town, to ensure that those who were injured, and the families of the injured and bereaved, were shown every consideration and comfort, to help them through such a traumatic and horrific experience."
Greatly shocked
He said many of his officers were greatly shocked by the scenes of carnage and devastation they had witnessed. One suffered severe lacerations to his back, but was making a good recovery, he added.
Those who had been involved with tending the injured had continued to perform their duty in a very courageous manner, and were being supported by, not only their colleagues, but by the many letters and phone calls from throughout the community, he said.
Those words of support for the efforts the police had made at the time of the bombing, and in the days following it, were greatly appreciated by all in the station, he said.
Many of the officers on duty on the day of the bomb were also on duty on Saturday for the service of prayer and reflection, and were deeply touched by it, he said.
He added that officers were also receiving help from the RUC's occupational health unit, so they could come to terms with the enormity of the incident.
"They are concerned for the injured and bereaved, and are coping very well. But there is certainly great sadness among all here in Omagh RUC Station," he said.
Supt. Baxter went on: "Because of the scenes we often witness, the public expect police officers to become hardened to such violence.
But no experience or training in the world could ever prepare young officers for the scenes of carnage they witnessed, nor should any police officer, ambulance officer or fire officer have to witness the scenes we saw in Omagh."
He said such horrific scenes could only be attributed to the people who planted the device in such a "callous way".
And he said the great tragedy of the incident was that police were moving people out of an area they had been led to believe was unsafe, and into one they believed was safe, not knowing that that was where the bomb was planted.
"Many of my officers are feeling guilty that they were not able to "They are asking the question, 'could we have done more?'. And the answer to that is no, they could not."
The superintendent said those who planted the bomb had the opportunity to say where exactly the device was.
"Why should anyone in this society want to plant a bomb in a busy market town on the busiest day of the week? Those people who got out of the vehicle and walked away saw women and children and men, young and old, in that street," he said.
One of the local officers lost his daughter in the bomb, and another lost a sister.
Grief
Supt. Baxter said he had the same grief for them as he had for every family which had been bereaved.
Young children cut down; teenagers with their entire lives ahead of them; parents murdered with their children. Words cannot explain it, nor can we adequately explain to the families just how saddened we all are at such a terrible atrocity," he said.
Commenting on the public support, he said one woman had sent a bouquet of flowers that morning to express her appreciation for the actions of the police officers.
"She had already laid flowers at Drumragh Bridge, and took the time to come in here with another floral tribute, which was very much appreciated," he said.
Reflecting on whether the town could come to terms with the atrocity, he said it would be very difficult.
"How does a community come to terms with the death of 28 people? How do they come to terms with the horrific injuries of those who were cut down?" he asked.
"People have to try to come to terms with it. But in the midst of that, they still have to show their deep concern for the injured and bereaved. This is a tragedy that the people of Omagh will not seek to forget quickly, nor will they want to," he said.
Supt. Baxter went on to say that he understood how difficult it must have been for traders to re-open on Monday, and for shoppers to come into the town.
But he said it was done very sensitively, and with great respect for the families of the bereaved and injured.
"That is what we should continue to show as a community," he said.
"A TRAGEDY that the people of Omagh will not seek to forget quickly, nor will they want to," is how Superintendent James Baxter, the local RUC sub-divisional commander, described the horror that was wreaked in the town on Saturday afternoon, August 15.
Supt. Baxter, who has visited a number of the bereaved and injured in a personal capacity since the bombing, said on Tuesday that he was "totally appalled" by what he had seen in Market Street after the bombing.
And he has paid tribute to his police officers, members of the public, and all the emergency services, who came to the aid of the injured.
The superintendent had not been in Omagh when the bomb went off, but travelled there as soon as he heard the news, and went immediately to the scene.
"I was totally appalled by what I saw - the loss of life and the injuries that were inflicted on the people of this area," he said.
''I found that the police officers at the scene did a tremendous job in helping the injured, and treated those who were killed in a most compassionate way and with great dignity.
"The response overall by the public and the emergency services - ambulance, fire, hospital staff, social services, and all involved - was excellent. The support and co-operation could not have been better."
Supt. Baxter went on: "The entire community pulled together at a time of the greatest need and greatest grief in this town, to ensure that those who were injured, and the families of the injured and bereaved, were shown every consideration and comfort, to help them through such a traumatic and horrific experience."
Greatly shocked
He said many of his officers were greatly shocked by the scenes of carnage and devastation they had witnessed. One suffered severe lacerations to his back, but was making a good recovery, he added.
Those who had been involved with tending the injured had continued to perform their duty in a very courageous manner, and were being supported by, not only their colleagues, but by the many letters and phone calls from throughout the community, he said.
Those words of support for the efforts the police had made at the time of the bombing, and in the days following it, were greatly appreciated by all in the station, he said.
Many of the officers on duty on the day of the bomb were also on duty on Saturday for the service of prayer and reflection, and were deeply touched by it, he said.
He added that officers were also receiving help from the RUC's occupational health unit, so they could come to terms with the enormity of the incident.
"They are concerned for the injured and bereaved, and are coping very well. But there is certainly great sadness among all here in Omagh RUC Station," he said.
Supt. Baxter went on: "Because of the scenes we often witness, the public expect police officers to become hardened to such violence.
But no experience or training in the world could ever prepare young officers for the scenes of carnage they witnessed, nor should any police officer, ambulance officer or fire officer have to witness the scenes we saw in Omagh."
He said such horrific scenes could only be attributed to the people who planted the device in such a "callous way".
And he said the great tragedy of the incident was that police were moving people out of an area they had been led to believe was unsafe, and into one they believed was safe, not knowing that that was where the bomb was planted.
"Many of my officers are feeling guilty that they were not able to "They are asking the question, 'could we have done more?'. And the answer to that is no, they could not."
The superintendent said those who planted the bomb had the opportunity to say where exactly the device was.
"Why should anyone in this society want to plant a bomb in a busy market town on the busiest day of the week? Those people who got out of the vehicle and walked away saw women and children and men, young and old, in that street," he said.
One of the local officers lost his daughter in the bomb, and another lost a sister.
Grief
Supt. Baxter said he had the same grief for them as he had for every family which had been bereaved.
Young children cut down; teenagers with their entire lives ahead of them; parents murdered with their children. Words cannot explain it, nor can we adequately explain to the families just how saddened we all are at such a terrible atrocity," he said.
Commenting on the public support, he said one woman had sent a bouquet of flowers that morning to express her appreciation for the actions of the police officers.
"She had already laid flowers at Drumragh Bridge, and took the time to come in here with another floral tribute, which was very much appreciated," he said.
Reflecting on whether the town could come to terms with the atrocity, he said it would be very difficult.
"How does a community come to terms with the death of 28 people? How do they come to terms with the horrific injuries of those who were cut down?" he asked.
"People have to try to come to terms with it. But in the midst of that, they still have to show their deep concern for the injured and bereaved. This is a tragedy that the people of Omagh will not seek to forget quickly, nor will they want to," he said.
Supt. Baxter went on to say that he understood how difficult it must have been for traders to re-open on Monday, and for shoppers to come into the town.
But he said it was done very sensitively, and with great respect for the families of the bereaved and injured.
"That is what we should continue to show as a community," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0266
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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