OMAGH SHARES GRIEF OF AMERICA'S BEREAVED
Omagh shares grief of America's bereaved
By Olga Bradshaw
A BOOK of Condolence was opened yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon at the Tourist Information Office at Market Street in Omagh, to allow the people of the area an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the numbing aerial attack on Washington and New York City on Tuesday.
While hundreds of Tyrone families hold their breath waiting to hear news of relatives and friends who have made either city their new home, the people of Omagh, Strabane and Buncrana have spent the past 48 hours lost in through and prayer as they watched the horrific scenes unfold - remembering their own hours of pain waiting for news after a terrorist attack.
Others are luckier. Some families with Tyrone links have already received phone calls letting them know their loved ones are safe. For others there is still an anxious wait.
At the weekend Omagh will stop to remember the dead and injured, as well as those who tried to help them, in special prayers to be said in each church in the district.
In a joint statement in the first few hours after the disaster, Omagh Churches Forum members, Fr. Kevin Mullan and Rev. Robert Heron, commented: "We will be commending the victims to the prayers of the congregations over the weekend."
"We will be considering an inter-denominational memorial service in the coming days," they said, adding: "We recognise how good America has been to Omagh and the vital role it has played in the Ulster Project and other schemes run for the benefit of our young people and young workers.
Both clergymen also urged the people of Omagh and those further afield who were touched by the tragedy of August 15, 1998, to pray, not only for the victims and their families, but also for World peace.
Vice-chairman of the council at the time of the Omagh atrocity three years ago, Mr. Allan Rainey, condemned the faction which carried out the airborne raid on the heart of America's financial, military and political focal points: "Whether you have committed an act of terrorism or whether you have harboured terrorists, you are just as guilty as those we witnessed on television on Tuesday. You are all guilty."
Speaking from a hotel in Bournemouth, England, where he was attending an environmental conference, Mr. Rainey said that first and foremost, he wanted to tender his deep and heartfelt sympathy and express his condolences to the bereaved and their families. He also said he wished all those injured and traumatised by the disaster a speedy recovery particularly those who were trapped within wreckages of the collapsed buildings as a result of the catastrophe
"I am one of four people presently attending the Environmental Health Conference in Bournemouth.
When we learned of this on Tuesday evening at around 4pm by way of public announcement by management, a total numbness just swept through the building where we were.
"There was a disbelief that anything of this magnitude could happen. Although we have seen terrorist activities in minute scale over the days and weeks leading up to this which we thought were of a horrific nature certainly this has stopped the world in its tracks," he said.
Mr. Rainey said his heart also bled for those in professional and emergency services, such as the Fire Brigade and all those in medical and public organisations who had rushed to the scene to help, only to be injured or killed themselves.
Sacrifice
"My heart goes out to them in their response, and particularly to those who have paid the supreme sacrifice trying to rescue other people. I don't know what words I would use to describe their heroism. And to their families, of course, I would want to tender our sympathies as well," he said.
He continued: "In Omagh what we suffered here we believed at that time that it was the absolute worst that could be inflicted on any town of our size or any other. And we had such a flood of good wishes and condolences in from all over world, and good wishes for our recovery. We as a town and as part of God's Vineyard collectively return that at this time," he said.
The former council chairman said that in the aftermath of the horrific attack many stern words had been issued by politicians, including those from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and from the US President, that no effort would be spared to bring to justice those responsible for such evil acts.
"Throughout Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning we have heard those same words. Personally, I think 'monitor my actions' is a phrase that is much more applicable.
"To date we have seen nothing of significance in Omagh as a result of everything that was said. I will monitor this with great vigour to see what these words, come to this time," he said.
"Those involved in any form of terrorist activity, large or small, hear this - there are no good bad boys regardless of whatever section of the community they come from.
"I say to them, 'when you look at your television this morning this is part of your handiwork. You are as guilty as those who committed this atrocity on Tuesday'," he said.
Tragedy
Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, said what the people of Omagh and the rest of the World were watching on television was a great tragedy.
"In reality there are thousands of individual tragedies unfolding in homes right across the US," he said.
"Looking back at Omagh we were not aware of the enormity of what happened here at the time it was our massive tragedy in this house," he said of his son, Adrian's murder on August 15.
"It is actually thousands of tragedies that we see now not just one large-scale event. We tend to focus on whole picture when we are not involved, but this is very personal for every family," he said.
"To put it into perspective: We had over 600 people at Tyrone County Hospital, with one doctor and a few nurses on duty. There is probably no nation on Earth better able to deal with a large scale disaster than the Americans because they have truly learned the lesson of Oklahoma, and that will help them now," he said.
"We had three days of mourning in Omagh for 30 victims so it gives you some idea of enormity of what America has to face - they have thousands of deaths in New York alone," he said.
"As we start to see the personal stories emerge it will be very very difficult for them as well as difficult for some of those in Omagh
"A lot of people I spoke to on Tuesday night found it very difficult. I stood outside that building in January this year. At the top is a sky deck. I saw families queuing up to go up there.
"It is just unbelievable that something that we have all come to recognise as an integral part of New York, in the same way as the Empire State Building represents it a building that took seven years to built those towers and both disappeared in less than an hour.
Reflecting on his own heartache and family tragedy, Mr. Gallagher added: "If I had any doubts about taking a civil action before yesterday they are certain gone now."
The chairman of Omagh council, Mr. Barry McElduff, told the Tyrone Constitution last night that he had proposed the adjournment of the rest of the day's business as a mark of respect on Tuesday night. His proposal was seconded by Mr. Paddy McGowan.
"The reason for that was to reflect the sense of shock and disbelief throughout the Omagh district and beyond," he said.
Likening the pictures he had seen to something akin to a Spielberg film, Mr. McElduff said the word 'tragedy' was insufficient. "We also agreed as council to open a Book of Condolence and to send a message of sympathy and condolence to the US President and American ambassadors in Ireland.
"We had a very full agenda to get through, but everybody understood the need to make this gesture," he said.
"We are mindful there are many from Tyrone living there. The scale and enormity of this is very difficult to take in," Mr. McElduff said.
He continued: "On a personal level, I would like to send a message of sympathy to anyone caught up in it. In this country we are all too aware of tragedy, but even we can be shocked by the enormity and scale of what has taken place.
"Everyone in Omagh council and in this district wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, and we will all be keen to hear from friends and neighbours who are currently in America and hear of their safety," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Oliver Gibson, councillor, commented: "Because of the terrorist action against the administration and financial capital of America we unreservedly extend sympathy to the US President and his people.
"In common with everyone in Northern Ireland, and especially we in Omagh, we know the penalties of having to live with people. This is something that has rocked the whole World emotionally, and something the human mind cannot comprehend. "I would trust the US government will take a hard and fast line and leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this hideous crime are brought to justice."
By Olga Bradshaw
A BOOK of Condolence was opened yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon at the Tourist Information Office at Market Street in Omagh, to allow the people of the area an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the numbing aerial attack on Washington and New York City on Tuesday.
While hundreds of Tyrone families hold their breath waiting to hear news of relatives and friends who have made either city their new home, the people of Omagh, Strabane and Buncrana have spent the past 48 hours lost in through and prayer as they watched the horrific scenes unfold - remembering their own hours of pain waiting for news after a terrorist attack.
Others are luckier. Some families with Tyrone links have already received phone calls letting them know their loved ones are safe. For others there is still an anxious wait.
At the weekend Omagh will stop to remember the dead and injured, as well as those who tried to help them, in special prayers to be said in each church in the district.
In a joint statement in the first few hours after the disaster, Omagh Churches Forum members, Fr. Kevin Mullan and Rev. Robert Heron, commented: "We will be commending the victims to the prayers of the congregations over the weekend."
"We will be considering an inter-denominational memorial service in the coming days," they said, adding: "We recognise how good America has been to Omagh and the vital role it has played in the Ulster Project and other schemes run for the benefit of our young people and young workers.
Both clergymen also urged the people of Omagh and those further afield who were touched by the tragedy of August 15, 1998, to pray, not only for the victims and their families, but also for World peace.
Vice-chairman of the council at the time of the Omagh atrocity three years ago, Mr. Allan Rainey, condemned the faction which carried out the airborne raid on the heart of America's financial, military and political focal points: "Whether you have committed an act of terrorism or whether you have harboured terrorists, you are just as guilty as those we witnessed on television on Tuesday. You are all guilty."
Speaking from a hotel in Bournemouth, England, where he was attending an environmental conference, Mr. Rainey said that first and foremost, he wanted to tender his deep and heartfelt sympathy and express his condolences to the bereaved and their families. He also said he wished all those injured and traumatised by the disaster a speedy recovery particularly those who were trapped within wreckages of the collapsed buildings as a result of the catastrophe
"I am one of four people presently attending the Environmental Health Conference in Bournemouth.
When we learned of this on Tuesday evening at around 4pm by way of public announcement by management, a total numbness just swept through the building where we were.
"There was a disbelief that anything of this magnitude could happen. Although we have seen terrorist activities in minute scale over the days and weeks leading up to this which we thought were of a horrific nature certainly this has stopped the world in its tracks," he said.
Mr. Rainey said his heart also bled for those in professional and emergency services, such as the Fire Brigade and all those in medical and public organisations who had rushed to the scene to help, only to be injured or killed themselves.
Sacrifice
"My heart goes out to them in their response, and particularly to those who have paid the supreme sacrifice trying to rescue other people. I don't know what words I would use to describe their heroism. And to their families, of course, I would want to tender our sympathies as well," he said.
He continued: "In Omagh what we suffered here we believed at that time that it was the absolute worst that could be inflicted on any town of our size or any other. And we had such a flood of good wishes and condolences in from all over world, and good wishes for our recovery. We as a town and as part of God's Vineyard collectively return that at this time," he said.
The former council chairman said that in the aftermath of the horrific attack many stern words had been issued by politicians, including those from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and from the US President, that no effort would be spared to bring to justice those responsible for such evil acts.
"Throughout Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning we have heard those same words. Personally, I think 'monitor my actions' is a phrase that is much more applicable.
"To date we have seen nothing of significance in Omagh as a result of everything that was said. I will monitor this with great vigour to see what these words, come to this time," he said.
"Those involved in any form of terrorist activity, large or small, hear this - there are no good bad boys regardless of whatever section of the community they come from.
"I say to them, 'when you look at your television this morning this is part of your handiwork. You are as guilty as those who committed this atrocity on Tuesday'," he said.
Tragedy
Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, said what the people of Omagh and the rest of the World were watching on television was a great tragedy.
"In reality there are thousands of individual tragedies unfolding in homes right across the US," he said.
"Looking back at Omagh we were not aware of the enormity of what happened here at the time it was our massive tragedy in this house," he said of his son, Adrian's murder on August 15.
"It is actually thousands of tragedies that we see now not just one large-scale event. We tend to focus on whole picture when we are not involved, but this is very personal for every family," he said.
"To put it into perspective: We had over 600 people at Tyrone County Hospital, with one doctor and a few nurses on duty. There is probably no nation on Earth better able to deal with a large scale disaster than the Americans because they have truly learned the lesson of Oklahoma, and that will help them now," he said.
"We had three days of mourning in Omagh for 30 victims so it gives you some idea of enormity of what America has to face - they have thousands of deaths in New York alone," he said.
"As we start to see the personal stories emerge it will be very very difficult for them as well as difficult for some of those in Omagh
"A lot of people I spoke to on Tuesday night found it very difficult. I stood outside that building in January this year. At the top is a sky deck. I saw families queuing up to go up there.
"It is just unbelievable that something that we have all come to recognise as an integral part of New York, in the same way as the Empire State Building represents it a building that took seven years to built those towers and both disappeared in less than an hour.
Reflecting on his own heartache and family tragedy, Mr. Gallagher added: "If I had any doubts about taking a civil action before yesterday they are certain gone now."
The chairman of Omagh council, Mr. Barry McElduff, told the Tyrone Constitution last night that he had proposed the adjournment of the rest of the day's business as a mark of respect on Tuesday night. His proposal was seconded by Mr. Paddy McGowan.
"The reason for that was to reflect the sense of shock and disbelief throughout the Omagh district and beyond," he said.
Likening the pictures he had seen to something akin to a Spielberg film, Mr. McElduff said the word 'tragedy' was insufficient. "We also agreed as council to open a Book of Condolence and to send a message of sympathy and condolence to the US President and American ambassadors in Ireland.
"We had a very full agenda to get through, but everybody understood the need to make this gesture," he said.
"We are mindful there are many from Tyrone living there. The scale and enormity of this is very difficult to take in," Mr. McElduff said.
He continued: "On a personal level, I would like to send a message of sympathy to anyone caught up in it. In this country we are all too aware of tragedy, but even we can be shocked by the enormity and scale of what has taken place.
"Everyone in Omagh council and in this district wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, and we will all be keen to hear from friends and neighbours who are currently in America and hear of their safety," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Oliver Gibson, councillor, commented: "Because of the terrorist action against the administration and financial capital of America we unreservedly extend sympathy to the US President and his people.
"In common with everyone in Northern Ireland, and especially we in Omagh, we know the penalties of having to live with people. This is something that has rocked the whole World emotionally, and something the human mind cannot comprehend. "I would trust the US government will take a hard and fast line and leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this hideous crime are brought to justice."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0933
Published Date: 13-Sep-01
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