OMAGH TOWN PRESENTS �29,000 TO BOMB MEMORIAL FUND
Omagh Town presents �29,000 to bomb memorial fund
A TOTAL of �29,000 has been handed over by Omagh Town FC to the Omagh Fund.
The money was the proceeds of three glamour friendlies in which Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United visited St. Julian's Road.
There has been considerable controversy over the total amount raised, and questions about the administration of the games were posed by a critical BBC television programme.
Details of the hand-over were contained in the Omagh Town match programme from their game on Saturday. Officials have refused to comment further.
The match programme said: "We can report this week that the Omagh Memorial Matches subcommittee has completed its administration work and transferred a sum of around �29,000 into the Omagh Fund.
"The sub-committee, set up by Omagh District Council in June 1999, comprised the council's chief finance officer, Omagh Town's general secretary, and an independent accountant.
"Its stated aim was securing 'openness and transparency" in dealing with the myriad of financial transactions arising from the matches arranged by Omagh Town.
"It is a matter of deep hurt to Omagh Town officials that gutter media reporting distorted the aims and outcome of those truly uplifting events, and, unfortunately, even when mud is throw unfairly, some of it sticks as there are people in our society who prefer to believe such rubbish.
"Omagh Town remained aloof from any tit-for-tat slanging matches in deference to the feelings of those for whom its project was delivered.
"An 18-month delay in finalising all matters relating to the accounts was completely outside the power of the club, which had handed over everything to the sub-committee to handle, but a lengthy customs and excise audit for VAT only recently ended.
"'The final accounts were produced by the independent accountant earlier this year and they have been distributed by the club to the relevant people and to the three English clubs involved, all of whom have written back to say they were happy to have played a part.
"Omagh District Council was also briefed on the draft accounts by the independent accountant and the club secretary.
"The club secretary[Pat McGlinchey] and the manager [Roy McCreadie] recently met with the chief executive (acting) and the chief finance officer of the council to close off the memorial matches matters.
"The council officials for their part declared that the aims of the council, viz openness and transparency, had been met and that the cheque for the final balance could now be transferred.
"Club officials, while stating their displeasure at the manner in which some matters had been handled, declared their satisfaction that the club's aims in staging the matches had been met - pleasure had been given to so many in the local community who attended the matches.
"Given that some of the financial projections prepared before the matches were staged pointed to a possible loss, the fact that a handsome cheque could be handed over to the fund was an added bonus, which brought pleasure and pride to the Omagh Town club and to those involved," the editorial ended.
A TOTAL of �29,000 has been handed over by Omagh Town FC to the Omagh Fund.
The money was the proceeds of three glamour friendlies in which Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United visited St. Julian's Road.
There has been considerable controversy over the total amount raised, and questions about the administration of the games were posed by a critical BBC television programme.
Details of the hand-over were contained in the Omagh Town match programme from their game on Saturday. Officials have refused to comment further.
The match programme said: "We can report this week that the Omagh Memorial Matches subcommittee has completed its administration work and transferred a sum of around �29,000 into the Omagh Fund.
"The sub-committee, set up by Omagh District Council in June 1999, comprised the council's chief finance officer, Omagh Town's general secretary, and an independent accountant.
"Its stated aim was securing 'openness and transparency" in dealing with the myriad of financial transactions arising from the matches arranged by Omagh Town.
"It is a matter of deep hurt to Omagh Town officials that gutter media reporting distorted the aims and outcome of those truly uplifting events, and, unfortunately, even when mud is throw unfairly, some of it sticks as there are people in our society who prefer to believe such rubbish.
"Omagh Town remained aloof from any tit-for-tat slanging matches in deference to the feelings of those for whom its project was delivered.
"An 18-month delay in finalising all matters relating to the accounts was completely outside the power of the club, which had handed over everything to the sub-committee to handle, but a lengthy customs and excise audit for VAT only recently ended.
"'The final accounts were produced by the independent accountant earlier this year and they have been distributed by the club to the relevant people and to the three English clubs involved, all of whom have written back to say they were happy to have played a part.
"Omagh District Council was also briefed on the draft accounts by the independent accountant and the club secretary.
"The club secretary[Pat McGlinchey] and the manager [Roy McCreadie] recently met with the chief executive (acting) and the chief finance officer of the council to close off the memorial matches matters.
"The council officials for their part declared that the aims of the council, viz openness and transparency, had been met and that the cheque for the final balance could now be transferred.
"Club officials, while stating their displeasure at the manner in which some matters had been handled, declared their satisfaction that the club's aims in staging the matches had been met - pleasure had been given to so many in the local community who attended the matches.
"Given that some of the financial projections prepared before the matches were staged pointed to a possible loss, the fact that a handsome cheque could be handed over to the fund was an added bonus, which brought pleasure and pride to the Omagh Town club and to those involved," the editorial ended.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0869
Published Date: 26-Apr-01
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