NO COMPENSATION FOR FORGOTTEN PEOPLE FOF BOMB ATROCITY
No compensation for 'forgotten people' of bomb atrocity
by David Killen
MANY people who gave immediate assistance in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb atrocity continue to suffer from the traumatic effects of that
day four years on, but have been refused the right to seek compensation, it was claimed this week.
One member of the emergency services told the Tyrone Constitution' that he had been told he could not seek compensation for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) he sustained because he had not been at the scene at the time the bomb exploded.
He said he was one of the 'forgotten people' who had suffered trauma, but would not be compensated.
The man, who asked not to be identified, said he had helped at the scene and six to seven months later had developed symptoms that had been diagnosed as PTSD. That continued to have an effect on his life he, said.
The man told the 'Constitution': "I was off duty that day but when I heard what had happened I went to the scene to give what help I could.
"I was there within 20 minutes of the explosion and stayed for several hours. During that time I helped with the injured and I saw people dead and dying all around and I helped remove bodies from the scene."
The man said that at the scene his professional training took over and he did what was needed without having the time to take in the enormity of what had happened.
The following week he was back at work and has continued to work since.
About six or seven months after the blast he began to feel the effects.
"I was not able to sleep or eat and I was hard to live with. I did not see that, but my family did," the emergency worker said.
Diagnosed
He said he had been seen by a doctor and psychologist and PTSD was diagnosed.
The man said that counselling services had been available to branches of the emergency services and others after the attack, but in his case the difficulties did not start until some months later, which is a common feature with PTSD.
"The doctor said I should see a solicitor and the solicitor thought I had a good case to seek damages against the Northern Ireland Office.
"The reply we got [from the NIO] was that I was not entitled to any compensation because I had not been at the scene when the bomb went off," he said.
The emergency worker said he did not begrudge those who were injured getting compensation, but there were many people who, like himself, had suffered psychological 'scars' yet would not be compensated.
"There are quite a few people like me in the emergency services who were there that day and still carry the trauma of it, yet we are not entitled to any compensation," the man said.
He said he had also approached the Omagh Fund, but was told it was not making payments for PTSD.
Referring to last week's controversy over the Fund setting money aside for a trauma centre, he said it should have been used to properly compensate all who suffered after the bomb.
"I don't want to take away from the loss suffered by the bereaved or the injuries sustained by so many, but there are other people who, like me, were traumatised. We are the forgotten people of the Omagh bomb," the man said.
by David Killen
MANY people who gave immediate assistance in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb atrocity continue to suffer from the traumatic effects of that
day four years on, but have been refused the right to seek compensation, it was claimed this week.
One member of the emergency services told the Tyrone Constitution' that he had been told he could not seek compensation for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) he sustained because he had not been at the scene at the time the bomb exploded.
He said he was one of the 'forgotten people' who had suffered trauma, but would not be compensated.
The man, who asked not to be identified, said he had helped at the scene and six to seven months later had developed symptoms that had been diagnosed as PTSD. That continued to have an effect on his life he, said.
The man told the 'Constitution': "I was off duty that day but when I heard what had happened I went to the scene to give what help I could.
"I was there within 20 minutes of the explosion and stayed for several hours. During that time I helped with the injured and I saw people dead and dying all around and I helped remove bodies from the scene."
The man said that at the scene his professional training took over and he did what was needed without having the time to take in the enormity of what had happened.
The following week he was back at work and has continued to work since.
About six or seven months after the blast he began to feel the effects.
"I was not able to sleep or eat and I was hard to live with. I did not see that, but my family did," the emergency worker said.
Diagnosed
He said he had been seen by a doctor and psychologist and PTSD was diagnosed.
The man said that counselling services had been available to branches of the emergency services and others after the attack, but in his case the difficulties did not start until some months later, which is a common feature with PTSD.
"The doctor said I should see a solicitor and the solicitor thought I had a good case to seek damages against the Northern Ireland Office.
"The reply we got [from the NIO] was that I was not entitled to any compensation because I had not been at the scene when the bomb went off," he said.
The emergency worker said he did not begrudge those who were injured getting compensation, but there were many people who, like himself, had suffered psychological 'scars' yet would not be compensated.
"There are quite a few people like me in the emergency services who were there that day and still carry the trauma of it, yet we are not entitled to any compensation," the man said.
He said he had also approached the Omagh Fund, but was told it was not making payments for PTSD.
Referring to last week's controversy over the Fund setting money aside for a trauma centre, he said it should have been used to properly compensate all who suffered after the bomb.
"I don't want to take away from the loss suffered by the bereaved or the injuries sustained by so many, but there are other people who, like me, were traumatised. We are the forgotten people of the Omagh bomb," the man said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1115
Published Date: 19-Sep-02
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.