COMPENSATION AGENCY LODGES APPEAL AGAINST �250,000 AWARD TO BOMB VICTIM
Compensation agency lodges appeal against �250,000 award to bomb victim
by David Killen
THE Compensation Agency has lodged an appeal against the �250,000 awarded to Rosemary Ingram, the former traffic warden injured in the Omagh bombing.
The agency says the appeal was based on the grounds that the award, made by a court in Omagh, exceeded the estimated value placed by the agency on Mrs Ingram's injuries.
The agency had initially offered �80,000, which Mrs Ingram refused. The appeal is expected to be heard next month.
On Tuesday, Mrs Ingram's brother, Mr Stanley McCombe, told the 'Tyrone Constitution' that the move was 'typical of the Northern Ireland Office.'
'The bereaved and injured are being made to fight for what is theirs by right. The whole system is rotten," Mr McCombe said.
"People in Omagh were murdered and others were injured. Why should the injured and bereaved have to fight so hard?" Mr McCombe said.
The appeal was putting even more pressure on his sister, Mr McCombe said.
"What she went through in the court was disgraceful. They [the Compensation Agency] have no scruples. All they have are their rules and regulations," he said.
He said Mrs Ingram should not have had to experience what she had gone through in an open, public court.
"All her human rights were denied. The whole thing is very unfair," said Mr McCombe.
He said he had been horrified to learn of what his sister had gone through in the court case.
"I believe there is an attempt to deter people from claiming," Mr McCombe said.
He added: "We are being treated as the criminals, not the Real IRA. After all the deaths, the injuries and the suffering, we have to fight for everything.
"A lot of the families are now really bitter against the Northern Ireland Office and the Government.
"I can see why people are so angry. Decent, working people who paid taxes all their lives were killed and injured and were not protected by the people they were working to pay taxes to."
Mrs Ingram, meanwhile, said the Government's treatment of the victims was 'disgusting'.
"As a victim myself, I feel that the British Government does not recognise victims. It's time someone spoke up because these people have no idea what it's like to be a victim," she said.
Mrs Ingram said she would fight the claim for as long as she could, and said she would not be able to continue if it was not for the support for her family.
by David Killen
THE Compensation Agency has lodged an appeal against the �250,000 awarded to Rosemary Ingram, the former traffic warden injured in the Omagh bombing.
The agency says the appeal was based on the grounds that the award, made by a court in Omagh, exceeded the estimated value placed by the agency on Mrs Ingram's injuries.
The agency had initially offered �80,000, which Mrs Ingram refused. The appeal is expected to be heard next month.
On Tuesday, Mrs Ingram's brother, Mr Stanley McCombe, told the 'Tyrone Constitution' that the move was 'typical of the Northern Ireland Office.'
'The bereaved and injured are being made to fight for what is theirs by right. The whole system is rotten," Mr McCombe said.
"People in Omagh were murdered and others were injured. Why should the injured and bereaved have to fight so hard?" Mr McCombe said.
The appeal was putting even more pressure on his sister, Mr McCombe said.
"What she went through in the court was disgraceful. They [the Compensation Agency] have no scruples. All they have are their rules and regulations," he said.
He said Mrs Ingram should not have had to experience what she had gone through in an open, public court.
"All her human rights were denied. The whole thing is very unfair," said Mr McCombe.
He said he had been horrified to learn of what his sister had gone through in the court case.
"I believe there is an attempt to deter people from claiming," Mr McCombe said.
He added: "We are being treated as the criminals, not the Real IRA. After all the deaths, the injuries and the suffering, we have to fight for everything.
"A lot of the families are now really bitter against the Northern Ireland Office and the Government.
"I can see why people are so angry. Decent, working people who paid taxes all their lives were killed and injured and were not protected by the people they were working to pay taxes to."
Mrs Ingram, meanwhile, said the Government's treatment of the victims was 'disgusting'.
"As a victim myself, I feel that the British Government does not recognise victims. It's time someone spoke up because these people have no idea what it's like to be a victim," she said.
Mrs Ingram said she would fight the claim for as long as she could, and said she would not be able to continue if it was not for the support for her family.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1133
Published Date: 21-Nov-02
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