BOMB BEREAVED FACE UPHILL BATTLE
Bomb bereaved face 'uphill battle' to raise funds for civil court action against suspects
Secretary of State praises courage of families
THE families of those killed in the Omagh bomb of August 15, 1998, are facing an uphill battle in raising the money needed to take their landmark civil action against the people they suspect carried out the atrocity.
This was revealed during a visit last week by the Secretary of State, Dr. John Reid, who praised the courage and determination of those affected by the bombing.
And after requesting the suspension of standing orders at the last meeting of the present Omagh District Council, Mrs. Ann Gormley proposed that the council should offer the victims its 'moral support' which was unanimously agreed.
Several councillors spoke in support and said that every avenue should be explored to help.
The Omagh families say that their lawyers are happy with the process of compiling evidence against the alleged bombers, but to proceed with their civil action they need �lm by August.
And since the fund-raising campaign was launched they have managed to gather just about one-quarter of that.
The chairman of the Omagh Victims' Self-Help Group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose son died in the explosion, said the only barrier was the funding.
Uphill battle
"We are about one quarter of the way there and we have less that two months to go, so it is very much an uphill battle to try and raise the amount of money that we need.
"We know that there are a lot of demands on people's generosity. People have been very good, but I would appeal to anyone who feels they could support us to continue to do that.
"If we did not raise enough money we would have to abandon the action which would be very difficult to face but that would be the reality," said Mr Gallagher.
The vice-chairman of the victims' group, Mr. Stanley McCombe, whose wife was killed in the atrocity, said that it was history being made if the legal action went ahead.
"We will always demand justice and we will never go away until these people are brought to justice," added Mr. McCombe.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State, Dr. Reid said that he fully respected the right of the families to bring the civil action, and added that everything possible was being done on the criminal side.
During his visit to the town Dr. Reid visited the Bridge Trauma Centre, where he met with the staff of the Omagh Community Trauma and Recovery Team and with representatives of the local community and voluntary organisations who helped the people of Omagh following the bomb.
During the visit, he also met privately with some of those bereaved and injured in the bombing.
Earlier the Secretary of State met Mr. Gallagher, who lost his son and Mr. McCombe at the town's Garden of Remembrance.
Dr. Reid said: "I have been deeply impressed by the courage and determination shown by those whose lives were changed forever on August 15, 1998, the relatives of those who died, the injured and all who were affected."
"I also want to pay tribute to the wonderful work that has been done for, and with, the people of Omagh by the staff of the Trauma Centre and by the community and voluntary groups. They have borne a heavy burden in responding to those affected by the terrible consequences of the bombing. Their work has made a difference to so many individuals," he said.
Secretary of State praises courage of families
THE families of those killed in the Omagh bomb of August 15, 1998, are facing an uphill battle in raising the money needed to take their landmark civil action against the people they suspect carried out the atrocity.
This was revealed during a visit last week by the Secretary of State, Dr. John Reid, who praised the courage and determination of those affected by the bombing.
And after requesting the suspension of standing orders at the last meeting of the present Omagh District Council, Mrs. Ann Gormley proposed that the council should offer the victims its 'moral support' which was unanimously agreed.
Several councillors spoke in support and said that every avenue should be explored to help.
The Omagh families say that their lawyers are happy with the process of compiling evidence against the alleged bombers, but to proceed with their civil action they need �lm by August.
And since the fund-raising campaign was launched they have managed to gather just about one-quarter of that.
The chairman of the Omagh Victims' Self-Help Group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose son died in the explosion, said the only barrier was the funding.
Uphill battle
"We are about one quarter of the way there and we have less that two months to go, so it is very much an uphill battle to try and raise the amount of money that we need.
"We know that there are a lot of demands on people's generosity. People have been very good, but I would appeal to anyone who feels they could support us to continue to do that.
"If we did not raise enough money we would have to abandon the action which would be very difficult to face but that would be the reality," said Mr Gallagher.
The vice-chairman of the victims' group, Mr. Stanley McCombe, whose wife was killed in the atrocity, said that it was history being made if the legal action went ahead.
"We will always demand justice and we will never go away until these people are brought to justice," added Mr. McCombe.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State, Dr. Reid said that he fully respected the right of the families to bring the civil action, and added that everything possible was being done on the criminal side.
During his visit to the town Dr. Reid visited the Bridge Trauma Centre, where he met with the staff of the Omagh Community Trauma and Recovery Team and with representatives of the local community and voluntary organisations who helped the people of Omagh following the bomb.
During the visit, he also met privately with some of those bereaved and injured in the bombing.
Earlier the Secretary of State met Mr. Gallagher, who lost his son and Mr. McCombe at the town's Garden of Remembrance.
Dr. Reid said: "I have been deeply impressed by the courage and determination shown by those whose lives were changed forever on August 15, 1998, the relatives of those who died, the injured and all who were affected."
"I also want to pay tribute to the wonderful work that has been done for, and with, the people of Omagh by the staff of the Trauma Centre and by the community and voluntary groups. They have borne a heavy burden in responding to those affected by the terrible consequences of the bombing. Their work has made a difference to so many individuals," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0887
Published Date: 07-Jun-01
Related Images
