TC10An/15

Three victims' names not to appear on memorial
by Stephen McKiernan

Three of the 29 names of those who died in the Omagh bomb will not appear on the official memorial to be erected tomorrow (Friday) at the memorial garden on the tenth anniversary of the blast.
Laurence Rush confirmed he had not allowed his wife Libbi's name to be engraved on the memorial. It is understood the other two names not to appear at their family's request are Gareth Conway, who was 18 and from Carrickmore, and Breda Devine, aged only 20 months, from Donemana.
Mr Rush cited many reasons for his decision not to allow his wife's name on the memorial and his subsequent refusal to attend the council-led service, claiming he would not let his wife's name be part of what he called a 'tourist exhibition'.
"The reason is because we (victim's families) have not been asked or included in any plans that were going on, we had no part in it, there was no reference to us at all," said Mr Rush.
Mr Rush's wife was the proprietress of Libbi's Café, situated on Lower Market Street, only yards from the blast site.
Mr Rush also took umbrage with the assumed presence of members of Sinn Fein at the official ceremony tomorrow afternoon.
"They (Omagh District Council) have sent at least 100 pieces of paper and letters, but the main thing is that I have opposed the memorial at the front of my wife's former shop. I saw no reason for them putting it there. That would be my main objection. Also, I was never given a list of dignitaries of who was to be appearing (at the council service)."
Mr Rush also alluded to the expense of the memorial, citing other avenues the money could have been better spent.
"I also thought this expense of money could be better used for a living memorial. I thought that the money, this £200,000, was more than what was told to me at the beginning. It could have been used as a living memorial such as a scholarship or bursary to young people.
This would have been a better option than this glass plinth. I don't think it's a great looking thing, it's a grotesque pop-art folly and I don't see that it has any Christian significance" added Mr Rush.
"I have a memorial at Drumragh (cemetery) and the biggest memorial I can wish for is in my children and grandchildren so that's what I'm going to concentrate on," he concluded.
Omagh District Council said it respected the decision of any family members not to attend the council-led service on Friday afternoon, stating: "Invitations have been issued to all the bereaved families many of whom are attending. However, the decision to attend is a personal one to be taken by each individual family. the council recognises that the tenth anniversary of the Omagh Bombing is a difficult and emotional time and it will respect the individual decisions reached."
The 'official' council-led ceremony will be held at 3pm tomorrow (Friday). The council said the ceremony provides an opportunity for the bereaved, the injured, the emergency and support services and all those affected by the bomb to "come together with the wider community in an act of remembrance."
The ceremony will include the dedication of the Garden of Light memorial which, according to the council, has been 'well-received'.
The council also refuted claims the victims' families were not informed stating "the families of the bereaved and injured have been kept fully informed of the memorial's development progress, as well as of the arrangements for the 10th anniversary commemorative ceremony.