HOAX BOMB WARNING STRIKES FEAR INTO SUNDAY WORSHIPPERS
Hoax bomb warning strikes fear into Sunday worshippers
A HOAX bomb warning in Omagh on Sunday, which disrupted midday church services, left hundreds of people frightened and in tears as they tried to make their way home amidst tight security.
Local councillors were quick to condemn the hoax, while a local priest said that if the perpetrator was ill then he or she needed help, if not there were not works to describe what should happen to them.
The RUC's Sub-Divisional Commander, Superintendent James Baxter, said it was an "act of unbearable cruelty" for those involved in it.
"Many people were engaged in quiet prayer and reflection at their place of worship. Some of those were people who were directly affected by the blast on August 15," he said.
"They and the rest of the good people of Omagh neither need nor deserve this."
The warning came as preparations were being made for the funeral of the 29th victim of the bombing, Mr Sean McGrath, a respected and much-loved local businessman.
The hoax call followed a series of malicious calls to the families of two of the young Buncrana children who were killed, and letters to a local man, whose wife perished in the blast.
It is understood the caller contacted a charitable organisation, but did not use a recognised code word.
Worshipers sat in fear and stunned disbelief as, outside, police sealed off the area around the Courthouse and began a search. They also had to evacuate a number of shops and restaurants.
Some of the police found themselves reliving measures they took four weekends ago as they strove to usher people to supposed safety before the 500lb car bomb wreaked havoc.
The alert began at 12.20pm, when the telephone warning was received, stating that a bomb had been left at the Courthouse - the alleged intended target of the earlier car bomb.
An extensive search was conducted of the area, by both Army and police, using sniffer dogs, and the town was declared clear at 2.40pm.
At Trinity Presbyterian Church, on James Street, worshippers were singing the last hymn when the minister, Rev. Robert Herron, was called from the pulpit and informed of the situation by a policeman.
The news was then relayed to the congregation who were asked to leave calmly and stay clear of the town centre.
A member of the congregation later said that fear was written across the faces of many in the church, and some had tears in their eyes.
Nearby in the Methodist Church the minister, Rev. Peter Good had just finished Communion, and was saying the Benediction.
His wife, Jean, said worshippers were asked to sit down, and prayers were said until they were informed that they could go home.
"There was an air of sadness and disbelief. It was a horrible feeling," she said.
"All we wanted to do was make sure our old and young people got home safely. We just waited in the church until we got further instructions and were told it was OK to go home"
In the Sacred Heart Chapel, 1,100 churchgoers were listening to the homily of Fr. John Forbes when the sacristan, Mr Joe Given, relayed the news to him.
"He said there was a bomb scare, and the police had asked if there was anyone with a car in High Street to go to it" he recalled.
Fr. Forbes said the congregation reacted calmly and sensibly, but the initial reaction had been a "very sharp intake of breath from most of them."
He said one woman told him afterwards that people were trying not to panic.
He invited a policeman up to the microphone to relay the information first-hand to the people to leave either by Castle Street or James Street.
Fr. Forbes said that many left to account for their cars, but most came back and the service continued with Communion.
Cordon
"When we came out a cordon was across the front of the church and the police had to lift it to let people out of the car park," he said.
He went on to say that he could not understand the mentality of those who had made the hoax call.
"For a town community to be in the midst of another death with Sean McGrath, and not forgetting it is only three weeks since the bomb, people were very vulnerable.
"Maybe it was someone trying to remove pain from their own heart, it that's the case they need help," he said.
"But if it was someone who was just doing it for fun, there are not words to describe what should be done to them. Either way it should not have been done, it was not a good thing."
Restaurateur, Mr. Dermot Montague, of the Pink Elephant, said that memories of the bombing came flooding back when a policeman came into the premises at around 1.45pm, and asked everyone to leave.
Customers had been enjoying a quiet lunch, and there were seven members of staff on duty.
Mr Montague said the incident had badly shaken people.
Independent councillor, Mr Paddy McGowan, described the people responsible as "plain evil", and added, "even to mention the word bomb in the town of Omagh is too much."
"The people who did this are not sick, they are just sheer evil, they knew right well what they were doing."
Mr McGowan added: "A hotel manager had 100 lunches ready, and that was their day gone completely. People were running trying to get into their cars and get away. People were crying with fear".
Councillor Mrs. Ann Gormley, said the bomb hoax was the "act of mindless criminals", and like any other criminals the perpetrators should be sought out and brought to justice.
"The community of Omagh is trying to get back some sense of normality and this sick act will not deter us," she said.
A HOAX bomb warning in Omagh on Sunday, which disrupted midday church services, left hundreds of people frightened and in tears as they tried to make their way home amidst tight security.
Local councillors were quick to condemn the hoax, while a local priest said that if the perpetrator was ill then he or she needed help, if not there were not works to describe what should happen to them.
The RUC's Sub-Divisional Commander, Superintendent James Baxter, said it was an "act of unbearable cruelty" for those involved in it.
"Many people were engaged in quiet prayer and reflection at their place of worship. Some of those were people who were directly affected by the blast on August 15," he said.
"They and the rest of the good people of Omagh neither need nor deserve this."
The warning came as preparations were being made for the funeral of the 29th victim of the bombing, Mr Sean McGrath, a respected and much-loved local businessman.
The hoax call followed a series of malicious calls to the families of two of the young Buncrana children who were killed, and letters to a local man, whose wife perished in the blast.
It is understood the caller contacted a charitable organisation, but did not use a recognised code word.
Worshipers sat in fear and stunned disbelief as, outside, police sealed off the area around the Courthouse and began a search. They also had to evacuate a number of shops and restaurants.
Some of the police found themselves reliving measures they took four weekends ago as they strove to usher people to supposed safety before the 500lb car bomb wreaked havoc.
The alert began at 12.20pm, when the telephone warning was received, stating that a bomb had been left at the Courthouse - the alleged intended target of the earlier car bomb.
An extensive search was conducted of the area, by both Army and police, using sniffer dogs, and the town was declared clear at 2.40pm.
At Trinity Presbyterian Church, on James Street, worshippers were singing the last hymn when the minister, Rev. Robert Herron, was called from the pulpit and informed of the situation by a policeman.
The news was then relayed to the congregation who were asked to leave calmly and stay clear of the town centre.
A member of the congregation later said that fear was written across the faces of many in the church, and some had tears in their eyes.
Nearby in the Methodist Church the minister, Rev. Peter Good had just finished Communion, and was saying the Benediction.
His wife, Jean, said worshippers were asked to sit down, and prayers were said until they were informed that they could go home.
"There was an air of sadness and disbelief. It was a horrible feeling," she said.
"All we wanted to do was make sure our old and young people got home safely. We just waited in the church until we got further instructions and were told it was OK to go home"
In the Sacred Heart Chapel, 1,100 churchgoers were listening to the homily of Fr. John Forbes when the sacristan, Mr Joe Given, relayed the news to him.
"He said there was a bomb scare, and the police had asked if there was anyone with a car in High Street to go to it" he recalled.
Fr. Forbes said the congregation reacted calmly and sensibly, but the initial reaction had been a "very sharp intake of breath from most of them."
He said one woman told him afterwards that people were trying not to panic.
He invited a policeman up to the microphone to relay the information first-hand to the people to leave either by Castle Street or James Street.
Fr. Forbes said that many left to account for their cars, but most came back and the service continued with Communion.
Cordon
"When we came out a cordon was across the front of the church and the police had to lift it to let people out of the car park," he said.
He went on to say that he could not understand the mentality of those who had made the hoax call.
"For a town community to be in the midst of another death with Sean McGrath, and not forgetting it is only three weeks since the bomb, people were very vulnerable.
"Maybe it was someone trying to remove pain from their own heart, it that's the case they need help," he said.
"But if it was someone who was just doing it for fun, there are not words to describe what should be done to them. Either way it should not have been done, it was not a good thing."
Restaurateur, Mr. Dermot Montague, of the Pink Elephant, said that memories of the bombing came flooding back when a policeman came into the premises at around 1.45pm, and asked everyone to leave.
Customers had been enjoying a quiet lunch, and there were seven members of staff on duty.
Mr Montague said the incident had badly shaken people.
Independent councillor, Mr Paddy McGowan, described the people responsible as "plain evil", and added, "even to mention the word bomb in the town of Omagh is too much."
"The people who did this are not sick, they are just sheer evil, they knew right well what they were doing."
Mr McGowan added: "A hotel manager had 100 lunches ready, and that was their day gone completely. People were running trying to get into their cars and get away. People were crying with fear".
Councillor Mrs. Ann Gormley, said the bomb hoax was the "act of mindless criminals", and like any other criminals the perpetrators should be sought out and brought to justice.
"The community of Omagh is trying to get back some sense of normality and this sick act will not deter us," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1151
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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