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Fundraising for bomb victims to end on eve of anniversary

FUNDRAISING for the Omagh Fund is set to end on the eve of the first anniversary of the Market Street bomb.
Mr John McKinney, chief executive of Omagh District Council, described August 14 this year as a 'sensible' date to wind up the fund, at a press conference at fund headquarters in Lisnamallard House on Monday.
Mr Sean O'Dwyer, fund chairman, thanked those who had contributed to the fund, but agreed there was a need to set a time limit on its existence.
"We believe this is an appropriate and sensitive date to choose, and one which best honours the memory of those who died," Mr O'Dwyer said.
And Mr Brian Oliphant, fund manager, said he hoped the choice of date would act as a 'catalyst' to encourage people to speed up their fundraising activities, although donations will continue to be received after August 14.
The fund currently stands at just over £2.2 million, and after a recent round of payments, £1,300,000 has been distributed to 243 of the bereaved and injured.
The Omagh Fund trustees keep in regular contact with representatives of the Buncrana committee. Their fund is now in excess of IR£20,000 and they intend to transfer this money to the coffers of the Omagh Fund in the near future.
Mr O'Dwyer said he still expected the fund to top £5 million, with large amounts of money still to come from sources such as RTE, various sporting organisations, and the 'Across the Bridge of Hope' CD.
"We believe the fund will exceed £5.5 million. We have received £2.2 million and there is another £2 million collected but not yet received, which will bring us to over £4 million. There are a large number of friends of Omagh working quietly and effectively in Dublin, London, the United States, and elsewhere to help the fund," he said.
Mr McKinney agreed: "The fund is moving from domestic to international level, with the corporate sector coming on board. That will boost the fund by a sizable amount.
"There are a lot of events still in the pipeline, and we are looking forward to a sizable increase of the amount of money we have."
Mr McKinney stressed that all money received by the council on behalf of the fund would go to those who were bereaved and injured by the bomb.
"One hundred per cent of the money has been passed on to the fund, and any costs incurred organising events are covered by the local council," he said.
The trustees plan to make further substantial payments to the bereaved families and physically injured in July.
According to Mr Oliphant, some people have exercised their right to refuse payments.
"Some people have decided not to receive a donation from the fund, but they will get the money if they change their minds," he said.
So far, the trustees have met formally on 19 occasions, and dealt with a variety of issues including fund size, payments to individuals and families, and criteria for injury categorisation and prioritisation.
Mr O'Dwyer said long-term trauma was being considered very carefully by the trustees, advised by the Trauma Team of the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust.
"The trustees recognise that there are many people beyond the bereaved and injured for whom the full effects of the bomb may only become apparent over time.
We want to make some form of practical and relevant provision for this eventuality and we thank the Trauma Team for their advice," Mr O'Dwyer said.
He continued: "There is no blueprint on how to administer a disaster fund. We are totally sensitive to the feelings and thoughts of the bereaved and injured; indeed they are the sole reason for the fund's existence.
"Our first priority throughout all this has been the bereaved and injured, and the traumatised. We hope the fund will help them to see, understand and believe that we have acted fairly, equitably and sensitively at all times," he said.
The press conference coincided with the publication of the fund's second quarterly newsletter, which will be sent to all those who were injured by the bomb, and to every person who has subsequently registered an interest with the fund.