I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO FEAR ANOTHER BOMBING HEADLINE
I don't ever want to have to fear another bombing headline'
Watching the 10th anniversary played out across national and world media, a mother tells of her hopes that the Omagh atrocity was the end of fear and the true beginning of peace:
"Have you ever said 'I wonder what I'll be doing in five or 10 years?" Well on August 15, 1998, this question didn't come into my head, yet today I'm looking back, remembering that horrendous day 10 years ago.
I remember welcoming my brother and sister-in-law who came to visit and we took a little time to decide where we would go that afternoon. We decided on Derry/Londonderry and on route we met several ambulances going the other way. We wondered what had happened but it was only when we were enquiring in a shop later that we heard of the bomb.
A selfish thought briefly entered my head, in that I was glad we had not decided to go to Omagh. We were told that first-aiders from the shop had gone to see if they could help. We were shocked, but it was only as the day went on that we realised the enormity of what had really happened.
Newspapers and TV brought home the reality of what had taken place. Over the next three weeks I cried day after day, I couldn't stop, I remember a TV reporter breaking down live on air which, in a way, symbolised how horrific this crime was.
This day was a turning point, up until then the odd innocent victim caught up in a bombing seemed 'acceptable ' to terrorist sympathisers - even the Enniskillen Bombing hadn't caused ENOUGH abhorrence, why? Because possibly they were Protestants attending a remembrance day wreath-laying service surrounded by British forces, a so-called 'legitimate' target.
But Omagh hit home. All these people were totally innocent and some were children, some were unborn, and people of both of the main denominations - this at last was a step too far.
Inside me was the beginning of a truly wonderful, special girl, my very precious Olivia, so called because of the Omagh bombing. I was in the early stages of my pregnancy and my emotions were probably even more intense because of this. I remember thinking I would call my child a name that would be in memory to those killed in the Omagh bomb.
And when my little girl was born I decided to call her Olivia, because you have the sound of live in Olivia and everyone deserves the chance to live without fear of letting their child go into town, in case there may be a bombing.
I thank God that 10 years on it is rarely that I worry about this, but I will admit that particularly now on anniversaries I do give the dissidents a thought and I pray the police intelligence is on top of them. I know that because of 'stories' handed down from generation to generation that there is a chance that some impressionable youths will be brainwashed to 'hero worship' these terrorists and I fear that the troubles are in the shadows.
Now 10 years on, it moves me to tears to see tonight a programme recalling the events of the Omagh bombing and tonight my beautiful nine-year-old sits by my side wiping my tears away and kissing my lips. I tell her she was given her name because of that bombing.
I ask God to help those who were injured and those who lost loved ones. We remember and feel anguish on these anniversaries -how do those families cope remembering all the time.
Who knows, had I and my family decided to go to Omagh that day, I may not have been here, I couldn't bear to think there is a chance I wouldn't be here and have my kind, loving Olivia. She is probably ever bit as special to me and her daddy as those children who lost their lives were to their parents. I thank God she's here, I can hold her hand, I can kiss her face, and I frequently do. I'm so sorry for those parents who can't do that to their children.
Today I worry about letting my teenager out on the streets where knives are becoming symbols of status in misguided youths. I worry about drugs, I feel dismay at the lowering levels of respect some children show adults -way down my list I worry about hard-line republicans brain-washing others to continue their fight for a united Ireland.
I don't give a toss, land is land.
All I want is peace.
Right now I am happy to worry about the headline -'CREDIT CRUNCH' - I don't ever want to have to fear another bombing headline again. Contributed
Watching the 10th anniversary played out across national and world media, a mother tells of her hopes that the Omagh atrocity was the end of fear and the true beginning of peace:
"Have you ever said 'I wonder what I'll be doing in five or 10 years?" Well on August 15, 1998, this question didn't come into my head, yet today I'm looking back, remembering that horrendous day 10 years ago.
I remember welcoming my brother and sister-in-law who came to visit and we took a little time to decide where we would go that afternoon. We decided on Derry/Londonderry and on route we met several ambulances going the other way. We wondered what had happened but it was only when we were enquiring in a shop later that we heard of the bomb.
A selfish thought briefly entered my head, in that I was glad we had not decided to go to Omagh. We were told that first-aiders from the shop had gone to see if they could help. We were shocked, but it was only as the day went on that we realised the enormity of what had really happened.
Newspapers and TV brought home the reality of what had taken place. Over the next three weeks I cried day after day, I couldn't stop, I remember a TV reporter breaking down live on air which, in a way, symbolised how horrific this crime was.
This day was a turning point, up until then the odd innocent victim caught up in a bombing seemed 'acceptable ' to terrorist sympathisers - even the Enniskillen Bombing hadn't caused ENOUGH abhorrence, why? Because possibly they were Protestants attending a remembrance day wreath-laying service surrounded by British forces, a so-called 'legitimate' target.
But Omagh hit home. All these people were totally innocent and some were children, some were unborn, and people of both of the main denominations - this at last was a step too far.
Inside me was the beginning of a truly wonderful, special girl, my very precious Olivia, so called because of the Omagh bombing. I was in the early stages of my pregnancy and my emotions were probably even more intense because of this. I remember thinking I would call my child a name that would be in memory to those killed in the Omagh bomb.
And when my little girl was born I decided to call her Olivia, because you have the sound of live in Olivia and everyone deserves the chance to live without fear of letting their child go into town, in case there may be a bombing.
I thank God that 10 years on it is rarely that I worry about this, but I will admit that particularly now on anniversaries I do give the dissidents a thought and I pray the police intelligence is on top of them. I know that because of 'stories' handed down from generation to generation that there is a chance that some impressionable youths will be brainwashed to 'hero worship' these terrorists and I fear that the troubles are in the shadows.
Now 10 years on, it moves me to tears to see tonight a programme recalling the events of the Omagh bombing and tonight my beautiful nine-year-old sits by my side wiping my tears away and kissing my lips. I tell her she was given her name because of that bombing.
I ask God to help those who were injured and those who lost loved ones. We remember and feel anguish on these anniversaries -how do those families cope remembering all the time.
Who knows, had I and my family decided to go to Omagh that day, I may not have been here, I couldn't bear to think there is a chance I wouldn't be here and have my kind, loving Olivia. She is probably ever bit as special to me and her daddy as those children who lost their lives were to their parents. I thank God she's here, I can hold her hand, I can kiss her face, and I frequently do. I'm so sorry for those parents who can't do that to their children.
Today I worry about letting my teenager out on the streets where knives are becoming symbols of status in misguided youths. I worry about drugs, I feel dismay at the lowering levels of respect some children show adults -way down my list I worry about hard-line republicans brain-washing others to continue their fight for a united Ireland.
I don't give a toss, land is land.
All I want is peace.
Right now I am happy to worry about the headline -'CREDIT CRUNCH' - I don't ever want to have to fear another bombing headline again. Contributed
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC10An/60
Published Date: 21-Aug-08
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