TC/1441

Victims groups will act as 'guardians' of Omagh fund
by Linda McKee

VICTIMS support groups this week reiterated their mission to act as "guardians" of the Omagh Fund after a meeting with district council officials.
What has generally been described as a constructive meeting helped clear the air after critcism levelled at the council last week over the delay in setting up a memorial to victims of the Real IRA bomb of August 15, 1998.
And there was also anger after it emerged that the three "glamour" matches organised by Omagh Town football club last year may raise only £15,000 for the Omagh Fund.
Mr Michael Gallagher, chairman of Omagh Support and Self Help Group, said the meeting went well and he felt the victims and relatives had been listened to.
He said: "Taking back control is part of the long road to recovery.
"It was a meeting where there was a lot of anger and pain and frustration. I think we got to the stage where we were listened to.
"Before that we felt that we weren't listened to, and sometimes we felt we were only listened to through the newspapers.
"We all came out of that meeting a lot happier than when we went in," he said.
Mr Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the attack, said his group had decided to wait and see what the auditor's report said about the funds from the Omagh Town matches.
He said that up until now the victims had felt excluded from the process.
"We feel that we have to act as guardians of the Fund considering the generosity of everyone involved," Mr Gallagher said.
District councillor, Mr Pat McDonnell, said a forthright and honest exchange of views had taken place.
He said: "Discussion ranged across various concerns expressed by the group in recent times, including in particular some issues which have attracted widespread media attention.
"While some matters will require further discussion, considerable consensus was achieved in areas which had been causing deep concern.
"A great deal of work remains to be done, but 1 feel that we are beginning to make progress in what has been a very regrettable situation," Mr McDonnell said.
Chief clients services officer, Mr Kevin O'Gara, said a working group was carrying out research into designing a suitable memorial to the 29 townspeople killed by the bomb.
Mr Laurence Rush, who lost his wife Elizabeth in the bomb attack, urged caution over the placement of any monument.
He said: "As one who has talked to several good Samaritans who suffer severe flashbacks and continue 18 months on to relive the horror of that day, do they want a permanent reminder, when the new street is finally constructed? Have they been asked?'
Mr Rush said the secrecy in which the Omagh Fund was disbursed, without any overall accounts being furnished, was sure to lead to the mistrust of the past few weeks.
He said: "While no individual amount should be disclosed, the overall figure, plus what remains, plus plans for its use, should have been made available to members of our Omagh Self Help and Support Group."