TC/1486

Two years on Omagh stops to remember
By Anne Palmer

HUNDREDS of people attended Tuesday's memorial service in Omagh on the second anniversary of the devastating bomb which ripped through the heart of the community.
Two years after the horrific bombing that killed 29 innocent people, including two unborn twin babies, the people of Omagh and visiting officials gathered for a memorial service at the new Garden of Remembrance, to honour family, friends and loved ones, as well as the 300 people injured. Everyone was united in silence and solemn prayer.
The Garden of Remembrance had recently been moved to a new location off Drumragh Avenue, near the First World War memorial, to make way for building work to start of the new Community House in the Market Street area.
Relative normality persisted throughout Omagh with most shops and offices open for business as usual.
But as three o'clock approached church bells rang out across the town and at 10 minutes past the hour, the crowd stood in silence as a mark of respect.
Hundreds of people left work and shutters on shops and businesses were pulled down, leaving the main streets silent and empty. Those who could not attend the service held private moments of reflection at work or at home as thoughts drifted back to two years ago.
As the bells of the four main churches began to toll their solemn message of remembrance, the skies opened and a sudden burst of rain washed down the street. Snippets of the service, lifted on the wind, occasionally echoed around both Market and High Street, which were now deserted.
Some premises put also notices in their windows advising passers-by of their closing times.
Raw emotion was evident on some of the faces of relatives gathered together as memories of the bombing came flooding back.
During the memorial service, Mr. Liam McQuaid, chairman of Omagh District Council, welcomed visitors from Buncrana and Spain.
"Exactly two years ago today, Omagh suffered the single worst atrocity in the history of the troubles," he said.
"Twenty nine men, women and children and two unborn babies lost their lives and over 300 more were injured as a result of that dastardly attack that dark Saturday afternoon," he continued.
He said that the devastation and pain which it inflicted on the community reached far beyond the boundaries of Omagh.
"The people of Buncrana and Madrid with whom we are now forever inextricably linked shared in and continue to share in our suffering," he said.
Mr McQuade welcomed in particular his excellency the Duque de Luna, the Spanish Council to Northern Ireland and Mr Jim Sheridan, chairman of Buncrana Urban District Council.
"The bereaved and injured have bourn their pain, sorrow and their anger with fortitude and with dignity," added the Omagh chairman.
Resilience
The resilience that they have shown will we know be tested to the full in coming weeks when the inquest hearing gets underway on
September 6," he added.
The chairman called on the people of the local community to individually and collectively support and help during what he said will undoubtedly be a particularly painful and difficult few weeks.
"And looking to the future we take some comfort from the fact that the physical rebuilding of our town is well under way, we earnestly hope through time that this will be matched by the healing and renewal of broken hearts and minds."
"It is my heart-felt wish and one which I know will be shared by all right thinking people that the troubles of the past 30 years have been consigned to the past," he said.
"Our communities must now strive to create a new and brighter future for all our young people, a future free from bigotry and hatred build on mutual respect and understanding and we must all play our part in creating that future and I have every confidence that together we can achieve that," concluded the chairman.
The service included the special anniversary prayer that was composed by members of Omagh Churches Forum.
Later specially selected readings were shared with the gathering which included verses from St Paul's second epistole, a letter to the Corinthians chapter four, providing encouragement not to loose heart.
Psalm 31 from the Old Testament reminded those gathered of the child like simplicity of trust in God. The short memorial service also included the a prayer of hope and a beautiful rendition of the comforting hymn 'The Lord is my Shepherd' given by two singers from Omagh Community Choir, accompanied on the guitar by Daryl Simpson. Everyone joined in with the Lord's Prayer and offered each other a hand of friendship.
A civic wreath laying ceremony, with the council chairman laying the first floral tribute, followed by visiting dignitaries and bereaved families, ended the service.
The floral tributes laid in the garden bore messages of love to those lost and on one of them cradled a little photograph of young smiling Lorraine Wilson (15), which shone out through the afternoon sunshine and showers. The teenager's parents said that even though two years had passed since they lost their teenage daughter they still felt numbed by the experience they had both been through.
The tragedy had also taken its toll on Lorraine's brothers Colin (12) and Gary (22) and sister, Denise (23).
Mr. Godfery Wilson, father of Lorraine Wilson who died in the bomb attack said he wished for an end to the troubles in Northern Ireland and hoped people would see each other simply as fellow human beings.
"I hope that these people are brought to justice. Now that Sinn Féin have their stepping stone onto politics, they should do the honourable thing and come forward and make sure that these people are treated for what they have done through the justice system," he said.
Speaking about the renewed appeal for information issued by the British and Irish Prime Ministers, Mr. Wilson said that he did not necessarily feel heartened.
He said that in his opinion  Sínn Féin still held the key, adding that it was their duty as political people to hand over the bombers.
"Northern Ireland still has a long way to go because they are still bringing in ammunition and guns," he added.
Difficult
The grieving dad, said that it is still very difficult for his family as inside this past two years there had been further losses. Just over a week ago his niece, 12-year old Charlene Wilson died tragically in a farm accident.
"The children are still under a lot of mental pressure," he said.
"What happened is always going to be in our hearts and souls. It's one of those things that we have to live with it and try to get on with it. I don't know what is going to become of us as we are still in a terrible state of mind," revealed the family man.
Michael Gallagher who lost his son Adrian (21) in the blast is spokesman for the families who are supported by the Omagh Victims Support and Self-help Group, said that although two years had passed, it wasn't necessarily getting any easier for people to cope with the weight of the trauma.
He appealed for the media to be sensitive to the needs of the people of Omagh, especially during the time of the inquest.
"I think that the last two years have passed very quickly, certainly they have gone in very quickly for me and my family, it seems like only a month ago," said Michael Gallagher.
He revealed that it wasn't getting any easier with so much violence occurring in Northern Ireland.
"So many times we have seen attempts to plant bombs," he added.
Mr. Gallagher explained that it was difficult at times when there had been a rise in tension in the community.
"It would have ended the pain if what happened in Omagh ended it all," he said.
He mentioned last Friday's attempted van-bomb attack on in Londonderry and said that it would have been horrific if the same thing that happened in Omagh had occurred there.
"These people who continue to do that, have no thought for any one. Despite the best efforts of the RUC and the Garda, there has been no movement forward on bringing these people to justice," said Mr. Gallagher.
It would not have brought back the people we lost, but at least the terrorists would have been out of circulation, he commented.
He said that the next few months would be difficult for people in Omagh with both the anniversary and the inquest due to take place.
"Since August 15, 1998, we were sheltered from the real horror, the worst effects of the bomb, but in the inquest that will be brought out into the public domain, the full effects of the bomb. It will cause a lot of pain.
World's media
"Over the last two years, pain and grief has really been very public expressed under the gaze of the world's media," said Mr Gallagher.
"I hope that the media will be sensitive to the families. They have been kind to the families in the past and I hope that this continues.
"The vast majority of us want to control what is happening in our lives and at times like that, when the inquest comes up, no one wants to read the press of horrific injuries," added Mr. Gallagher.
He said that the world had a right to know what happened on Market Street, but added that a lot of the people affected, would try to shelter their families from that horror.
He said that if children were to come into the playground telling of what they had read about, there was a lot of danger that a lot of damage could be done.
Mr. Gallagher said that some people experience a difficulty going into the Market Street area, where the car bomb exploded.
"It is where that evil was," he said, adding: "I suppose it is like a lot of other things in life, time and distance will make it easier."
He said that as the town develops and physically changes it will become easier to deal with what has happened.
Meanwhile, Tracey Kernaghan co-ordinator at the WAVE Trauma Centre, also based in Omagh explained that since the centre opened in January 1999, there had been continued growth in referrals, and in the services which were on offer there.
"Within our work at the Omagh WAVE Centre, we have found that the second anniversary of the Omagh bomb this week, coupled with the imminent approach of the inquest in September is bringing to the fore many emotional feelings within our members, who are affected by the Omagh Bomb, and previous tragedies within Northern Ireland," she said.
"Within the centre we are continuing to support anyone who has been bereaved or traumatised as a result of the 'troubles' through, befriending, complimentary therapies, youth programmes, advice, group support, drop-in centre, counselling and training," she added.
Mass celebrated by Fr. Brian Donnelly, at the Sacred Heart Church in Omagh was broadcast by RTE on radio last Sunday to mark the anniversary.
Rev. Father Michael Keaveny said that the people of his parish were looking to the future.
"We are doing our best, it is a balancing act, trying to get on with our lives and put the past behind us." He said.
He stressed that life must go on, but those who died in the bomb will never be forgotten.
"Omagh was symbolic in that both communities were hit by the tragedy and there is hope that the communities would go ahead together," he added.
"There is a quiet dignity about Omagh people," he said.
Fr Keaveny said that there were good Christians in Omagh in both communities, who believed in God, and he said that, that would help people to get through the difficult times.
He was angered by those who tried to pull the progress in Northern Ireland apart. The Good Friday Agreement in his book, was a tremendous move forward.
The clergyman revealed that he was encouraged by the movement and pulling together of people in Omagh who were doing their best to move forward.
Fr. Keaveny said that the formation of the Omagh Churches forum had been a great help and added that the group was dealt a sad blow with the loss of Methodist Minister Rev. Peter Good, who died earlier this year. He paid tribute to Mr. Good: "He was an exceptional man," he said.