BOMB FILM CONDEMNED BY INJURY-HIT VICTIMS
Bomb film condemned by injury-hit victims
by Terry Patterson
SEVERAL members of the Omagh-based WAVE Trauma Centre have criticised the decision by RTE and Channel Four to televise the film, Omagh, which depicts events surrounding the August 15, 1998 town centre bombing atrocity.
At its monthly meeting the counselling and befriending organisation, which has offices at Old Market Place, heard various speakers - who did not wish to be named - condemn the film and its contents.
A member, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, said: "Up to now I could not get myself together to watch all the flashbacks that I had seen. I was very much against the making of the film."
Another speaker added: "In my opinion this film should never have been shown so soon. Maybe in another 10 years. It's much too fresh in people's memory. Mentally I feel it's much too soon for everyone involved."
And another member said: "I was severely injured in the Omagh bomb, and I was never told anything about a film, which I am furious about.
"I am still awaiting compensation to try and get on with my life, which I never will. It's obvious that these people who wanted to make this film were not in town on the day."
Yet another speaker claimed: "The filming of this atrocity is an insult to the injured of Omagh. Our opinion was never asked for. The people who made this film have no feelings for the injured."
This view was endorsed by another member who said: "The injured feel betrayed that they were not consulted about the Omagh atrocity."
In two longer criticisms, which reflected very personal histories, members were somewhat critical of Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, from whose standpoint the film was made, and complained about a lack of sensitivity and consultation.
The first said: "I have been attending WAVE since the bomb. Michael Gallagher is not the only one suffering. I have horrific injuries from the bomb, and the reality is that I will have to live with them for the rest of my life.
"I don't need to watch a film to remind me of that awful day".
And the other asserted: "I can empathise with Mr. Gallagher and his family. As a severely injured victim of the Omagh bomb I am absolutely disgusted that a film of it could have been made so soon. We all [injured included] would like the bombers to be caught, but the reality is they never will.
"It is hard enough every day to live with my horrific scars and injuries without having a film to remind me of that day. I feel that we, the injured, have had insensitivity thrown in our faces.
'The injured are never consulted about anything to do with the bomb, let alone this film. Michael Gallagher needs to remember our feelings and not just his own."
Mr. Gallagher lost his young son in the atrocity.
by Terry Patterson
SEVERAL members of the Omagh-based WAVE Trauma Centre have criticised the decision by RTE and Channel Four to televise the film, Omagh, which depicts events surrounding the August 15, 1998 town centre bombing atrocity.
At its monthly meeting the counselling and befriending organisation, which has offices at Old Market Place, heard various speakers - who did not wish to be named - condemn the film and its contents.
A member, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, said: "Up to now I could not get myself together to watch all the flashbacks that I had seen. I was very much against the making of the film."
Another speaker added: "In my opinion this film should never have been shown so soon. Maybe in another 10 years. It's much too fresh in people's memory. Mentally I feel it's much too soon for everyone involved."
And another member said: "I was severely injured in the Omagh bomb, and I was never told anything about a film, which I am furious about.
"I am still awaiting compensation to try and get on with my life, which I never will. It's obvious that these people who wanted to make this film were not in town on the day."
Yet another speaker claimed: "The filming of this atrocity is an insult to the injured of Omagh. Our opinion was never asked for. The people who made this film have no feelings for the injured."
This view was endorsed by another member who said: "The injured feel betrayed that they were not consulted about the Omagh atrocity."
In two longer criticisms, which reflected very personal histories, members were somewhat critical of Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, from whose standpoint the film was made, and complained about a lack of sensitivity and consultation.
The first said: "I have been attending WAVE since the bomb. Michael Gallagher is not the only one suffering. I have horrific injuries from the bomb, and the reality is that I will have to live with them for the rest of my life.
"I don't need to watch a film to remind me of that awful day".
And the other asserted: "I can empathise with Mr. Gallagher and his family. As a severely injured victim of the Omagh bomb I am absolutely disgusted that a film of it could have been made so soon. We all [injured included] would like the bombers to be caught, but the reality is they never will.
"It is hard enough every day to live with my horrific scars and injuries without having a film to remind me of that day. I feel that we, the injured, have had insensitivity thrown in our faces.
'The injured are never consulted about anything to do with the bomb, let alone this film. Michael Gallagher needs to remember our feelings and not just his own."
Mr. Gallagher lost his young son in the atrocity.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1736
Published Date: 03-Jun-04
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