INQUEST IS ANOTHER HURDLE FOR FAMILIES
Inquest is another hurdle for families, trauma team leader
AS the inquest moves into its final few days, Mr. David Bolton, Director of Community Care with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, said that it seemed timely to reflect of what had been endured and shared over the past weeks, as well as thinking of what lay ahead.
In a statement issued at a press Conference on Friday afternoon at the Media Annex, he said those who had gathered every day at the Leisure Centre had journeyed together.
"Bereaved, witnesses, officials, advocates, administrators, friends, pastors and helpers have all been part of something that has revealed what it is to be human, first through the suffering, then through' friendship, gentleness, caring and concern," he said.
Mr. Bolton continued: "Those who could not come have been in the hearts and minds of those who were there. Help has been at hand."
He described the inquest as another hurdle for those who had been directly affected by the Omagh bombing, and particularly so for those who had been bereaved, as well as those who had suffered injury and distress, for those who helped, or for those who remembered things that were hurtful to recall.
"Many have had mixed feelings about the Inquest. We have felt on one hand the compulsion to hear what was being said and repulsed by what was revealed. The truth has been bitter, at times brutal.
"And overwhelming as, when we thought we could hear and bear no more, there was worse to be heard and more to be borne," he said.
Mr. Bolton said that, although at times it had been hard to see, the truth had, at times, been helpful.
"Pieces of the jigsaw, missing for two years, have slipped into place, completing a picture, answering questions. People with questions have met and talked with those who had answers. Truth has, at times, brought consolation," he said.
However, he added that there were two important considerations. "First, the experience and sense of injustice is still deeply felt. Second, the desire that this ought not, should not, happen to others, is so plain that it hardly needs words to say it.
"Those who have really listened to the unspeakable detail must reach the conclusion that the violence, in whatever form it takes, must stop. IT is timely, and necessary to say so.
"There is now a time for those who brought sorrow to Omagh, Buncrana and Spain, and to many other homes ad hearts, to be humble and have pity. Political dogma, in the face of the consequences of this savagery, has truly nothing of consequence to say," he said.
Reflection
He said that each day clergy had invited all to a series of reflections that had encouraged people to face the truth with grace. Many had been grateful for this, he said.
"It is one of those experiences where the world of faith and belief has touched and been at one with the world of human need and experience. Beyond the final days of the Inquest lies the unknown.
"The truth of the days to come will be for many, and for this community, at times lonely and difficult. The shock of reality and anti-climax, of answered yet unsatisfied questions, lies before us. We will need to rely on grace for the days ahead.
He added: "Beyond the ending of the inquest there is strength to be gained in the hope that arises from warmest friendship and sincerest humanity. There are good things waiting to be done."
In a question and answer session at the press conference, Mr. Bolton said that on the balance it was felt that the Inquest had been worth it and it had dealt with a lot of questions.
He said the ceremony or the inquest had been an important process to go through, and people could get a sense of closure or the feeling of the closing of a chapter.
Networks
Presbyterian Minister, Rev. Robert Herron, who accompanied Mr. Bolton, said that he had no doubt that the networks and the communities formed since the bomb would continue.
He said that many of those worst effected by the bombing did not come from Omagh itself, but from outlying villages in the district, where they had the benefit of extended family, neighbours, churches and community groups.
He said that friendships formed over the last two years had been cemented, and he had no doubt they would continue.
He said people acknowledged that they needed support, and the support of one-another. He said that, at time, he himself had found that support from the bereaved.
Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Cappagh Parish, who also attended the press conference, said that it had been a difficult task to support the bereaved. He said that dealing with their pain had taken its toll on him too, but helping them had also been a privilege.
He stressed that many of the people that clergy worked with were known to them, they were very much real people.
Responding to people's need for justice, Mr. Bolton said that there was a desire for judicial justice, and for an explanation as to why the atrocity was necessary and why it was done.\He said some kind of humanity or pity from the perpetrators or from those who used violence, whether from Belfast, the border towns or London, such recognition would give a sense of justice, he said.
Asked about the future of the Trauma Team, and whether it was wise to allow it to close at Christmas, Mr. Bolton said that the Trust had reviewed funding to take the service up to March this year.
Additional funding was sought which allowed the unit to remain open until December this year, and the Trust was still waiting to hear from the Department with regard to any further funding.
He acknowledged that the Inquest was going to be difficult, and that in some cases it was more difficult than it was thought it might have been, but the Trust would bee looking at the issue of needs which arose from it.
He said that come December the Trust would be looking at the provision of the service seriously, and if necessary a further submission for funding would be made to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
AS the inquest moves into its final few days, Mr. David Bolton, Director of Community Care with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, said that it seemed timely to reflect of what had been endured and shared over the past weeks, as well as thinking of what lay ahead.
In a statement issued at a press Conference on Friday afternoon at the Media Annex, he said those who had gathered every day at the Leisure Centre had journeyed together.
"Bereaved, witnesses, officials, advocates, administrators, friends, pastors and helpers have all been part of something that has revealed what it is to be human, first through the suffering, then through' friendship, gentleness, caring and concern," he said.
Mr. Bolton continued: "Those who could not come have been in the hearts and minds of those who were there. Help has been at hand."
He described the inquest as another hurdle for those who had been directly affected by the Omagh bombing, and particularly so for those who had been bereaved, as well as those who had suffered injury and distress, for those who helped, or for those who remembered things that were hurtful to recall.
"Many have had mixed feelings about the Inquest. We have felt on one hand the compulsion to hear what was being said and repulsed by what was revealed. The truth has been bitter, at times brutal.
"And overwhelming as, when we thought we could hear and bear no more, there was worse to be heard and more to be borne," he said.
Mr. Bolton said that, although at times it had been hard to see, the truth had, at times, been helpful.
"Pieces of the jigsaw, missing for two years, have slipped into place, completing a picture, answering questions. People with questions have met and talked with those who had answers. Truth has, at times, brought consolation," he said.
However, he added that there were two important considerations. "First, the experience and sense of injustice is still deeply felt. Second, the desire that this ought not, should not, happen to others, is so plain that it hardly needs words to say it.
"Those who have really listened to the unspeakable detail must reach the conclusion that the violence, in whatever form it takes, must stop. IT is timely, and necessary to say so.
"There is now a time for those who brought sorrow to Omagh, Buncrana and Spain, and to many other homes ad hearts, to be humble and have pity. Political dogma, in the face of the consequences of this savagery, has truly nothing of consequence to say," he said.
Reflection
He said that each day clergy had invited all to a series of reflections that had encouraged people to face the truth with grace. Many had been grateful for this, he said.
"It is one of those experiences where the world of faith and belief has touched and been at one with the world of human need and experience. Beyond the final days of the Inquest lies the unknown.
"The truth of the days to come will be for many, and for this community, at times lonely and difficult. The shock of reality and anti-climax, of answered yet unsatisfied questions, lies before us. We will need to rely on grace for the days ahead.
He added: "Beyond the ending of the inquest there is strength to be gained in the hope that arises from warmest friendship and sincerest humanity. There are good things waiting to be done."
In a question and answer session at the press conference, Mr. Bolton said that on the balance it was felt that the Inquest had been worth it and it had dealt with a lot of questions.
He said the ceremony or the inquest had been an important process to go through, and people could get a sense of closure or the feeling of the closing of a chapter.
Networks
Presbyterian Minister, Rev. Robert Herron, who accompanied Mr. Bolton, said that he had no doubt that the networks and the communities formed since the bomb would continue.
He said that many of those worst effected by the bombing did not come from Omagh itself, but from outlying villages in the district, where they had the benefit of extended family, neighbours, churches and community groups.
He said that friendships formed over the last two years had been cemented, and he had no doubt they would continue.
He said people acknowledged that they needed support, and the support of one-another. He said that, at time, he himself had found that support from the bereaved.
Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Cappagh Parish, who also attended the press conference, said that it had been a difficult task to support the bereaved. He said that dealing with their pain had taken its toll on him too, but helping them had also been a privilege.
He stressed that many of the people that clergy worked with were known to them, they were very much real people.
Responding to people's need for justice, Mr. Bolton said that there was a desire for judicial justice, and for an explanation as to why the atrocity was necessary and why it was done.\He said some kind of humanity or pity from the perpetrators or from those who used violence, whether from Belfast, the border towns or London, such recognition would give a sense of justice, he said.
Asked about the future of the Trauma Team, and whether it was wise to allow it to close at Christmas, Mr. Bolton said that the Trust had reviewed funding to take the service up to March this year.
Additional funding was sought which allowed the unit to remain open until December this year, and the Trust was still waiting to hear from the Department with regard to any further funding.
He acknowledged that the Inquest was going to be difficult, and that in some cases it was more difficult than it was thought it might have been, but the Trust would bee looking at the issue of needs which arose from it.
He said that come December the Trust would be looking at the provision of the service seriously, and if necessary a further submission for funding would be made to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1559
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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