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Memorial fund donations expected to reach £1m

DONATIONS to the Omagh Memorial Fund are expected to reach £1 million, the district council revealed this week.
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday). The council's chief finance officer, Mrs. Joan McCaffrey said that around £500,000 was already in the Trust fund account, with more than £300,00 of that the proceeds of the Darren Clarke's pro-am golf tournament.
She went on to say that, with other commitments and pledges, it was likely that the fund would hit the £1m mark.
Many events have been organised throughout the island of Ireland to raise money for the Trust fund, with one of the largest expected to be a special concert at the Waterfront hall in Belfast on October 4th.
Mrs. McCaffrey said: "The response so far has been great. It is amazing how has been raised and it shows how thoughtful people are."
She went on to say that individual contributions ranged from £5 and £2,000.
The money raised will go towards helping the families of those who lost their lives, as well as those injured and maimed, and will be distributed by the fund's Trustee's, the names of which are shortly to be announced.
Meanwhile, the books of condolence set up in the aftermath of the bombing closed on Tuesday.
To date, the council has collected and received over 200 books, mainly from throughout Ireland, but from various parts of Britain as well, and more are expected.
It is understood that several hundred thousand people have signed their names as an expression of sympathy with those bereaved and injured as a result of the August 15th atrocity.
Once all the books have been gathered together, relatives of the victims will have the opportunity to view them privately.
And the council then hopes to place them on public view in the town, a venue for which has not yet been decided.
It is anticipated that the books will eventually be displayed in permanent premises, possibly in the new arts centre when it is up and running.