BOMB BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBER ASKED TO LEAVE MEMORIAL GARDEN
Bomb bereaved family member asked to leave memorial garden in run-up to anniversary
by Stephen McKiernan
THE grieving sister of a deceased bomb victim, who was ejected from the town's memorial garden last week, has spoken of how she wants to remember her brother during the Sunday service, to be held by Omagh Support and Self Help Group this weekend.
Carol Radford, whose brother, Alan, was only 16 when he was killed, has admitted the run-up to the 10th anniversary commemorations has left a sour taste in what was always going to be a difficult day.
Long-running disharmony between the bomb victims' families and Omagh District Council over the handling of the commemorations and memorial has deteriorated in the past week.
Last week, just seven days before the anniversary, Ms Radford was asked to leave the town's memorial garden, after going there with a press photographer to have her picture taken at the refurbished site.
Ms Radford claims she was involved in an exchange of words with workmen, acting on behalf of the contractors, who were still working on the construction of the site.
Ms Radford alleges she told workmen who she was, explaining further she had been at the garden the previous day (August 7) to have her picture taken.
Subsequently, she left the site along with the press photographer.
Omagh District Council confirmed two members of the public had entered the garden without authorisation.
"The final construction works at the memorial garden are ongoing and, as such, the site remains a construction site, which is not open to the public. This unauthorised entry is, therefore, a breach of site security and contravenes Health and Safety Regulations."
Ms Radford said she told workmen she would accept full responsibility for her safety, while on the work site. An investigation into the incident is being carried out and the matter may still be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
A meeting between the council and the Support and Self Help Group on Tuesday seemed to have helped relations between the two bodies. However, many of the families are still not expected to attend the council-led ceremony tomorrow afternoon.
"As far as I'm concerned, nothing's changed," said Ms Radford, speaking after the meeting, which she did not attend. "Even last week when I was put out of the garden, it showed how things were.
"I actually met the artist of the memorial garden (Sean Hillen) the day before and he took me on a tour of the memorial garden, showing me all the different things. That's how obliging they have been. But then the next day, to be ejected from the garden, it was just so bizarre.
"It was the photographer who wanted the photo, and I had been there the day before and there had been no problem. It wasn't as if I went looking for trouble, I just thought I could have had the photo taken.
"At the time, there was nothing stopping people from walking into the garden. I see now they have something up to shut people out. How they can go from being so nice one day to this the second? The workmen didn't have any problem the first day."
Alluding to the meeting between the council and the families, Ms Radford said she respected anybody's decision to attend whichever service they wished, but confirmed her absence from the 'official' council service.
"There's still a lot of hurt going on. I have sat with these people (Omagh District Council) and talked to them, but nothing has changed with them. I will attend the family service on Sunday because I think that's right for me. If other family members wish to go to the Friday service, I fully respect their decision and have no problem with that, but I will not be attending," she said. "There's simply too much hurt and I want to be with the families, that's where I find my comfort. Don't get me wrong, I know there will be a lot of
decent people at the Friday ceremony, of course I know that, but I don't wish to be there."
Ms Radford also said she took exception to any presence of members of Sinn Fein at the council-led service.
"No, my feeling haven't changed on that regard. These people haven't supported the families at all during all this time. In fact, last year - we have always had our own service at the memorial garden - we got a letter from Omagh District Council saying we couldn't use the garden, as it was council property."
Ms Radford also said, practically speaking, the Sunday service suited her family much more, a family now dispersed since the bombing.
"I feel that the Sunday service for the families will suit us all much more. I know, with my family, a lot of them are having to travel in for the anniversary because they felt the couldn't stay during all this. They are happier to be travelling for Sunday instead of Friday, with work commitments and that. I know a few of the other families have said the same thing. So really, I just want to be with people who I have grown to know and feel comfortable with, who have gone through this as well.
"I will just think about Alan, it will be hard, it always is, but I just try to think about him and remember how he was, that's the important thing for me, nothing else," she added.
by Stephen McKiernan
THE grieving sister of a deceased bomb victim, who was ejected from the town's memorial garden last week, has spoken of how she wants to remember her brother during the Sunday service, to be held by Omagh Support and Self Help Group this weekend.
Carol Radford, whose brother, Alan, was only 16 when he was killed, has admitted the run-up to the 10th anniversary commemorations has left a sour taste in what was always going to be a difficult day.
Long-running disharmony between the bomb victims' families and Omagh District Council over the handling of the commemorations and memorial has deteriorated in the past week.
Last week, just seven days before the anniversary, Ms Radford was asked to leave the town's memorial garden, after going there with a press photographer to have her picture taken at the refurbished site.
Ms Radford claims she was involved in an exchange of words with workmen, acting on behalf of the contractors, who were still working on the construction of the site.
Ms Radford alleges she told workmen who she was, explaining further she had been at the garden the previous day (August 7) to have her picture taken.
Subsequently, she left the site along with the press photographer.
Omagh District Council confirmed two members of the public had entered the garden without authorisation.
"The final construction works at the memorial garden are ongoing and, as such, the site remains a construction site, which is not open to the public. This unauthorised entry is, therefore, a breach of site security and contravenes Health and Safety Regulations."
Ms Radford said she told workmen she would accept full responsibility for her safety, while on the work site. An investigation into the incident is being carried out and the matter may still be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
A meeting between the council and the Support and Self Help Group on Tuesday seemed to have helped relations between the two bodies. However, many of the families are still not expected to attend the council-led ceremony tomorrow afternoon.
"As far as I'm concerned, nothing's changed," said Ms Radford, speaking after the meeting, which she did not attend. "Even last week when I was put out of the garden, it showed how things were.
"I actually met the artist of the memorial garden (Sean Hillen) the day before and he took me on a tour of the memorial garden, showing me all the different things. That's how obliging they have been. But then the next day, to be ejected from the garden, it was just so bizarre.
"It was the photographer who wanted the photo, and I had been there the day before and there had been no problem. It wasn't as if I went looking for trouble, I just thought I could have had the photo taken.
"At the time, there was nothing stopping people from walking into the garden. I see now they have something up to shut people out. How they can go from being so nice one day to this the second? The workmen didn't have any problem the first day."
Alluding to the meeting between the council and the families, Ms Radford said she respected anybody's decision to attend whichever service they wished, but confirmed her absence from the 'official' council service.
"There's still a lot of hurt going on. I have sat with these people (Omagh District Council) and talked to them, but nothing has changed with them. I will attend the family service on Sunday because I think that's right for me. If other family members wish to go to the Friday service, I fully respect their decision and have no problem with that, but I will not be attending," she said. "There's simply too much hurt and I want to be with the families, that's where I find my comfort. Don't get me wrong, I know there will be a lot of
decent people at the Friday ceremony, of course I know that, but I don't wish to be there."
Ms Radford also said she took exception to any presence of members of Sinn Fein at the council-led service.
"No, my feeling haven't changed on that regard. These people haven't supported the families at all during all this time. In fact, last year - we have always had our own service at the memorial garden - we got a letter from Omagh District Council saying we couldn't use the garden, as it was council property."
Ms Radford also said, practically speaking, the Sunday service suited her family much more, a family now dispersed since the bombing.
"I feel that the Sunday service for the families will suit us all much more. I know, with my family, a lot of them are having to travel in for the anniversary because they felt the couldn't stay during all this. They are happier to be travelling for Sunday instead of Friday, with work commitments and that. I know a few of the other families have said the same thing. So really, I just want to be with people who I have grown to know and feel comfortable with, who have gone through this as well.
"I will just think about Alan, it will be hard, it always is, but I just try to think about him and remember how he was, that's the important thing for me, nothing else," she added.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC10An/10
Published Date: 14-Aug-08
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