HERO OF ATROCITY NUMBED BY HOAX CALL
Hero of atrocity 'numbed' by hoax call
SERGEANT Philip Marshall, who played a vital role in co-ordinating events in the immediate aftermath of the August 15 blast, was also on duty during the bombscare on Sunday.
He admitted to the Tyrone Constitution that he asked 'Why me, Lord?", when the hoax warning was received.
Two of his officers, one male and one female, who were on duty on August 15, were also called upon to carry out the evacuation on Sunday.
Sgt Marshall described feelings of numbness as he contemplated a repeat of the horrific scenes he witnessed three weeks ago.
"I thought there is no way this can be happening. How could anyone be so sick?" he said.
"The same place, at nearly the same time, just over three weeks later. There was no code word, but you can never take a chance."
Sgt Marshall said that he assigned various tasks to the two police officers involved in the original incident, in order to keep panic to a minimum."
"The young policewoman at the scene took it very badly. I had her checking car numbers, to keep her mind active, while the other officer was helping to clear the churches. But it certainly has taken its toll on the," he said.
"It caused pandemonium. Some of the people panicked, most just got up and ran. People moved quickly, there was very little coaxing to be done."
"People were put out of their places of worship how low do we have to stoop" Can you imagine how it feels to go into a church and stop a service?"
Sgt Marshall said that the scare had caused untold damage, setting back the psychological rehabilitation of his officers, as well as civilians.
"It wasn't just a case of putting myself and my people through it again. The people sitting in bars were probably sitting in the same places three weeks previously, and the people in the churches were probably relatives of the deceased and injured," he said.
"There are some sick people out there. It was as bad as the letters and phone calls some of the families have been receiving."
"If their aim is to mess the police up then, yes, it messes us up, but it also puts the whole community in fear. Everybody is affected"
Commenting on last Thursday's Clinton visit Sgt Marshall said that the US President offered his condolences for the tragedy, and thanked the officers for their good service.
The President singled out one of the officers, Alan Palmer, who was injured in the blast, and wished him a speedy recovery.
Thursday was the first time two of the officers who were at the scene of the blast had returned to town.
"Because of the crowds and the buzz, it wasn't too bad for them," said Sgt Marshall.
But he revealed how, when the street cleared, he brought them down to the bomb site, to read the plaque.
"It was a very poignant moment, and quite a few tears were shed," he revealed.
"But in the long term it will be helpful, and going through what happened on Sunday could also be helpful in a strange way."
"Whereas before they might have thought they could never carry out another evacuation, now they know the can do it again, if need be," he said.
SERGEANT Philip Marshall, who played a vital role in co-ordinating events in the immediate aftermath of the August 15 blast, was also on duty during the bombscare on Sunday.
He admitted to the Tyrone Constitution that he asked 'Why me, Lord?", when the hoax warning was received.
Two of his officers, one male and one female, who were on duty on August 15, were also called upon to carry out the evacuation on Sunday.
Sgt Marshall described feelings of numbness as he contemplated a repeat of the horrific scenes he witnessed three weeks ago.
"I thought there is no way this can be happening. How could anyone be so sick?" he said.
"The same place, at nearly the same time, just over three weeks later. There was no code word, but you can never take a chance."
Sgt Marshall said that he assigned various tasks to the two police officers involved in the original incident, in order to keep panic to a minimum."
"The young policewoman at the scene took it very badly. I had her checking car numbers, to keep her mind active, while the other officer was helping to clear the churches. But it certainly has taken its toll on the," he said.
"It caused pandemonium. Some of the people panicked, most just got up and ran. People moved quickly, there was very little coaxing to be done."
"People were put out of their places of worship how low do we have to stoop" Can you imagine how it feels to go into a church and stop a service?"
Sgt Marshall said that the scare had caused untold damage, setting back the psychological rehabilitation of his officers, as well as civilians.
"It wasn't just a case of putting myself and my people through it again. The people sitting in bars were probably sitting in the same places three weeks previously, and the people in the churches were probably relatives of the deceased and injured," he said.
"There are some sick people out there. It was as bad as the letters and phone calls some of the families have been receiving."
"If their aim is to mess the police up then, yes, it messes us up, but it also puts the whole community in fear. Everybody is affected"
Commenting on last Thursday's Clinton visit Sgt Marshall said that the US President offered his condolences for the tragedy, and thanked the officers for their good service.
The President singled out one of the officers, Alan Palmer, who was injured in the blast, and wished him a speedy recovery.
Thursday was the first time two of the officers who were at the scene of the blast had returned to town.
"Because of the crowds and the buzz, it wasn't too bad for them," said Sgt Marshall.
But he revealed how, when the street cleared, he brought them down to the bomb site, to read the plaque.
"It was a very poignant moment, and quite a few tears were shed," he revealed.
"But in the long term it will be helpful, and going through what happened on Sunday could also be helpful in a strange way."
"Whereas before they might have thought they could never carry out another evacuation, now they know the can do it again, if need be," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1152
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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