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Royal visitors praise work of Omagh's emergency services

THE Duke and Duchess of Glouchester praised the courageous work of the emergency services in Omagh, when they visited the town as guests of the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn on Friday last.
After driving past the site of the Market Street bomb, the Royal visitors were welcomed to the Omagh District Council offices by Mr Allan Rainey, vice-chairman of the council, and Mr John McKinney, chief executive.
Members of the Omagh fundraising committee, traders and representatives of womens' groups were also present.
Mr Rainey showed the Royal visitors the plans for the refurbishment of the entire town not just Market Street.
And he gave details of the district council's regeneration initiative, 'Omagh: Renewal and Beyond', which was launched on October 5 as a reaction to the devastating bomb.
The document predicts that the cost of plans aimed at tackling the destruction caused by the bomb, and enhancing the image of the town, will come to just over £44 million.
Mrs Elizabeth McSorley, head of corporate services with the council, showed the visitors a scale model of the new arts centre on the site of the old town hall.
"I think that they have come here to convey their sympathy to the people of Omagh, and they seemed to show great interest in what we are trying to do on the bomb site. People want to see action on that site to show the town is moving on," she said.
Mr Rainey then addressed the guests assembled in the council chamber, saying the Royal visit would further motivate those involved in the renewal of the town.
"The troubled events of August 15 had a devastating impact on the community, and the healing process is slow and difficult, but with the hope of God we will rise up from the ashes greater and stronger," he said.
"We have shared with you our vision for the rehabilitation of the town and thank you for your time an interest in our redevelopment plans," he told the Royal couple.
Mr Rainey said he hoped they would return to Omagh to moniter the progress of the regeneration programme.
The Duke, who is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, then congratulated the way the people of Omagh were approaching the task of regenerating the commercial centre of the town.
Sad
"It is a sad reason for visiting your town, but we are very pleased to have the opportunity to come here and to share the sympathy we have with you, and hope it symbolises the sympathy which many people feel," he said.
"We would both like to wish you the very best of luck in that and hope the scars are healed as quickly as possible, and the community thrives in a way it deserves."
The Royal visitors then signed a book of condolences in the council offices, before proceeding to a private meeting with members of the security forces at the local RUC station.
They were welcomed by the sub-divisional commander, Supt. James Baxter and deputy divisional commander, Supt. Maurice Murphy.
The Duke and Duchess then visited the town's Leisure Centre, where they had the opportunity to meet members of the emergency services, who worked so tirelessly in the aftermath of the bomb.
They met members of the fire and ambulance services, health and social service workers, the Sperrin Lakeland Trust board and various support groups, and questioned them extensively about their work.
Local fire station officer, John Langtry, who spent four hours at the scene and three hours at the hospital trying to track down injured firefighters, spoke to the Duke.
"He asked us what we did at the scene, and when he realised that most of the firefighters lived in the community, he commented that we would have known a lot of the people involved.
"He praised the Fire Service and expressed admiration for the job that we did, but he really did more listening than talking."
The Duke also spoke to members of the ambulance crews who were at the scene, including divisional officer Alan Cahill, who described the Royal visit as "helpful".
And the visitors took time to speak to members of the emergency services whose work 'behind the scenes' had previously gone unrecognised.
Marie Lynch, a control room assistant who was on duty at Altnagelvin Hospital Londonderry, told the Duke: "It was awful to hear children screaming down the end of the phone."