PRINCE CHARLES GIVEN BOMB PROTEST LETTER
Prince Charles given bomb 'protest' letter
By Anne Palmer
OMAGH man, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bombing atrocity, handed Prince Charles a letter of protest about victims and the continuing violence in the province, when they met at the Hillsborough Castle Garden Party on Tuesday.
Mr Gallagher explained that the letter recorded the concerns of the families associated with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
The letter reiterated the point that no one had yet been brought to justice for the atrocity. It also pointed out how families connected with the support group felt that both governments had failed by not pushing this issue forward.
But while some Omagh families were represented at the Garden Party, others stayed away. One of those, Mr Stanley McCombe said he did not see the point in the Garden Party.
Mr Gallagher revealed that members of the support group were very disappointed that a number of senior politicians who hold governing positions had not put their weight behind the investigations, nor had they supported the police and the Garda.
"Until that happens, the investigation will be stalled," said Mr Gallagher.
"We need those senior politicians to make appeals within their own communities, so that people will come forward to provide information about events prior to and just after the Omagh bomb.
"We also need more cooperation between the police and the Garda,"
Mr Gallagher asked Prince Charles to have a look at the concerns penned in the letter. The Prince came across as 'quite genuine' in his dealings with Mr Gallagher.
"He seemed understanding and sympathetic," said Mr Gallager,
Mr Gallagher said that there was a fairly good turn out from those when had been bereaved in Omagh.
From the feedback he had received, Mr Gallagher said the consensus was that people enjoyed themselves at the Garden Party.
"It gives people a break, its something to talk about and it lifted their minds.
"We had an opportunity to raise awareness that things are not as they should be," added Mr Gallagher.
He described the garden event as an emotional one.
"Some people, however get a sense of guilt for being there, especially if you start to enjoy yourself when you've lost someone," he added
He explained that the organisation would be continuing their campaign and continuously looking at ways of putting pressure on those who caused the Omagh bombing.
"There needs to be a resolve to what has happened here."
"It is unbelievable that people can come into a town and murder 31 people and think that they can get away with it," he said.
Overall Mr Gallagher said he enjoyed the outing. "Sadly we've got a lot in common, but it's nice to spend time meeting people from all over Northern Ireland.
He said he had noticed that many of the people affected by the trauma of the troubles were on their own, unlike the people of Omagh, who could share some of their grief. Mr Gallagher said he would like to see those individuals being encouraged to become more involved with organisations that could support them.
"I pray we're the last victims," he added.
Two thousand people assembled at the annual event, which this year was dedicated to the victims of the Troubles, those injured, traumatised and bereaved.
Guests from right across the province lined-up to shake hands with the Prince following the ceremony that united all of them in grief, suffering and in healing too. Among the guests from England, was Colin Parry, whose son Tim died in the Warrington bombing. John and Rita Restorick, whose son Stephen, was the last soldier to be killed in the Province also attended the Royal event at Hillsborough Castle, official residence of Peter Mandelson.
Prince Charles lost his own uncle, Lord Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA near Mullaghmore in Co. Sligo.
Earlier this week, Sinn Fein leaders turned down the invitation to attend the garden party, they had been invited in line with all the other MPs and Ministers of the Stormont Executive.
One Omagh man, however, saw no point in going to the garden party. Stanley McCombe stayed at home in Tyrone.
"What can Prince Charles do, what was the point?" he said.
"I don't need high falluting days out like that. I'm not looking for sympathy," he commented.
"It was for the victims, there were a lot of victims there. I've lost my wife, Ann, so I'm bound to be a victim.
"But according to the Northern Ireland Office, I'm not a traumatised person," he said.
Mr McCombe explained that under the NIO provision, in his experience, there was no compensation for him, financial or otherwise.
"Why should I go and mix with people like that, who don't really care?" he wondered.
"Politicians don't really understand the situation, unless they have been through it themselves.
"The media is more interested in the people of Omagh, than the politicians are. We're asking questions that we can't get answers to.
"Its not peace here-it's power. The politicians are not representing the interests of the people, at least not those who ask quietly," added Mr McCombe.
By Anne Palmer
OMAGH man, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bombing atrocity, handed Prince Charles a letter of protest about victims and the continuing violence in the province, when they met at the Hillsborough Castle Garden Party on Tuesday.
Mr Gallagher explained that the letter recorded the concerns of the families associated with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
The letter reiterated the point that no one had yet been brought to justice for the atrocity. It also pointed out how families connected with the support group felt that both governments had failed by not pushing this issue forward.
But while some Omagh families were represented at the Garden Party, others stayed away. One of those, Mr Stanley McCombe said he did not see the point in the Garden Party.
Mr Gallagher revealed that members of the support group were very disappointed that a number of senior politicians who hold governing positions had not put their weight behind the investigations, nor had they supported the police and the Garda.
"Until that happens, the investigation will be stalled," said Mr Gallagher.
"We need those senior politicians to make appeals within their own communities, so that people will come forward to provide information about events prior to and just after the Omagh bomb.
"We also need more cooperation between the police and the Garda,"
Mr Gallagher asked Prince Charles to have a look at the concerns penned in the letter. The Prince came across as 'quite genuine' in his dealings with Mr Gallagher.
"He seemed understanding and sympathetic," said Mr Gallager,
Mr Gallagher said that there was a fairly good turn out from those when had been bereaved in Omagh.
From the feedback he had received, Mr Gallagher said the consensus was that people enjoyed themselves at the Garden Party.
"It gives people a break, its something to talk about and it lifted their minds.
"We had an opportunity to raise awareness that things are not as they should be," added Mr Gallagher.
He described the garden event as an emotional one.
"Some people, however get a sense of guilt for being there, especially if you start to enjoy yourself when you've lost someone," he added
He explained that the organisation would be continuing their campaign and continuously looking at ways of putting pressure on those who caused the Omagh bombing.
"There needs to be a resolve to what has happened here."
"It is unbelievable that people can come into a town and murder 31 people and think that they can get away with it," he said.
Overall Mr Gallagher said he enjoyed the outing. "Sadly we've got a lot in common, but it's nice to spend time meeting people from all over Northern Ireland.
He said he had noticed that many of the people affected by the trauma of the troubles were on their own, unlike the people of Omagh, who could share some of their grief. Mr Gallagher said he would like to see those individuals being encouraged to become more involved with organisations that could support them.
"I pray we're the last victims," he added.
Two thousand people assembled at the annual event, which this year was dedicated to the victims of the Troubles, those injured, traumatised and bereaved.
Guests from right across the province lined-up to shake hands with the Prince following the ceremony that united all of them in grief, suffering and in healing too. Among the guests from England, was Colin Parry, whose son Tim died in the Warrington bombing. John and Rita Restorick, whose son Stephen, was the last soldier to be killed in the Province also attended the Royal event at Hillsborough Castle, official residence of Peter Mandelson.
Prince Charles lost his own uncle, Lord Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA near Mullaghmore in Co. Sligo.
Earlier this week, Sinn Fein leaders turned down the invitation to attend the garden party, they had been invited in line with all the other MPs and Ministers of the Stormont Executive.
One Omagh man, however, saw no point in going to the garden party. Stanley McCombe stayed at home in Tyrone.
"What can Prince Charles do, what was the point?" he said.
"I don't need high falluting days out like that. I'm not looking for sympathy," he commented.
"It was for the victims, there were a lot of victims there. I've lost my wife, Ann, so I'm bound to be a victim.
"But according to the Northern Ireland Office, I'm not a traumatised person," he said.
Mr McCombe explained that under the NIO provision, in his experience, there was no compensation for him, financial or otherwise.
"Why should I go and mix with people like that, who don't really care?" he wondered.
"Politicians don't really understand the situation, unless they have been through it themselves.
"The media is more interested in the people of Omagh, than the politicians are. We're asking questions that we can't get answers to.
"Its not peace here-it's power. The politicians are not representing the interests of the people, at least not those who ask quietly," added Mr McCombe.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1451
Published Date: 15-Jun-00
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