SPANISH AMBASSADOR PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO OMAGH BOMB VICTIMS
Spanish Ambassador pays his respects to Omagh bomb victims
Self help group raises memorial issue with visitor
by Emma Stewart
AS PART of a two-day visit to Northern Ireland this week, the Spanish Ambassador to the UK, Mr Carlos Miranda y Elio, Count of Casa Miranda, was welcomed to Omagh, to pay his respects to victims of the Omagh bomb, and witness the town's regeneration at first hand.
Having personally requested the visit, the Ambassador was asked to meet with members of Omagh District Council, as well as people affected by the Omagh bomb, including bereaved families and those injured, representatives of the emergency and counselling services, state agencies, and community and voluntary groups, as well as representatives of churches across the district.
Despite hopes expressed by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group that the Ambassador would use his influence to press their agenda, as regards the delay in erecting a memorial, and indeed over the wording of an inscription, the Spanish delegate could only say that he was 'sympathetic to their situation', but that it was not for him to become involved.
Having visited the Memorial Garden, on behalf of the Spanish Embassy, to lay a wreath in remembrance of the victims of the 1998 atrocity, the Ambassador said: "I felt I had to come to Omagh, to where this terrible attack took place, in which two Spaniards died."
He added that Spain was all too familiar with the ravages of terrorism.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Felix Valdes, Consul General and member of the Omagh Memorial Working Group, advisory tier, who expressed his delight that just one week after the memorial design competition was advertised in the Spanish media, an enquiry from Spain had already been received by Omagh District Council.
Referring to the 11-M tragedy, when 191 train passengers were killed in a bomb attack by Islamic extremists in Madrid in March 2004, Mr Valdes indicated that he understood the importance of such a tribute to the people of Omagh, and, in particular, the families of victims.
Also present at the reception was Mr Joe Doherty, Mayor of Buncrana, who said that he was "delighted to have received an invitation to be part of this very special occasion". Mr Doherty added: "I was recently delighted to hear that Spanish students are starting to come back to Buncrana. We always look forward to welcoming them, particularly as they are now very much part of the culture and ethos of our area."
Echoing the sentiments of many, Mr Doherty expressed hopes for a peaceful future, while acknowledging the sadness that remains with those who have been affected by the violence of the past.
Having requested a private meeting with the Ambassador, the Omagh Support and Self Help Group had hoped to secure his support for their ongoing dispute with Omagh District Council over what they see as the current eight-year delay in commissioning a memorial, and indeed issues over the ultimate inscription.
To date the group has submitted a proposed inscription, reading, 'To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured, from three nations, by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb', and are angered by their perception that the council will "do whatever they want without regard for the wishes of the families."
The Ambassador is said to have told members that his visit was purely to represent his government, and that it was up to the community of Omagh to deal with issues surrounding the memorial.
Mr Kevin Skelton, vice-chair of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, whose wife, Philomena, was killed in the atrocity, though complimentary about the Ambassador himself, recognised the event as 'a PR exercise', and asserted that "at least the Ambassador was honest enough to say that he was not an elected representative, and, therefore, could do nothing for us." As the search begins for the winning design for a 'permanent fitting memorial to the Omagh bomb', Omagh District Council has expressed a desire that the members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group would re-engage with the Omagh Memorial Working Group, acknowledging that the process 'may cause stress to many people affected by the bomb'.
In addressing the Ambassador, Omagh District Council chairman, Sean Begley, said: "The events of August 15, 1998, were a defining moment in the history of Omagh and indeed Ireland, North and South, when people across the island were galvanised in their support of the peace process. As time moves on, we, in Omagh, Buncrana and Madrid, continue to remember those who lost their lives in a reverent way and continue to support our injured and traumatised. An important part of the healing process is the provision of a permanent memorial, which will be valued and cherished by the whole community." In response to concerns
expressed by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, the council is keen to reassure interested parties that "the Omagh Memorial Working Group has not agreed, nor does it have a preference for, any form of wording for the memorial. Design teams will be invited to propose appropriate wording if they wish, and proposals will be considered by the working group and the advisory panel".
Self help group raises memorial issue with visitor
by Emma Stewart
AS PART of a two-day visit to Northern Ireland this week, the Spanish Ambassador to the UK, Mr Carlos Miranda y Elio, Count of Casa Miranda, was welcomed to Omagh, to pay his respects to victims of the Omagh bomb, and witness the town's regeneration at first hand.
Having personally requested the visit, the Ambassador was asked to meet with members of Omagh District Council, as well as people affected by the Omagh bomb, including bereaved families and those injured, representatives of the emergency and counselling services, state agencies, and community and voluntary groups, as well as representatives of churches across the district.
Despite hopes expressed by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group that the Ambassador would use his influence to press their agenda, as regards the delay in erecting a memorial, and indeed over the wording of an inscription, the Spanish delegate could only say that he was 'sympathetic to their situation', but that it was not for him to become involved.
Having visited the Memorial Garden, on behalf of the Spanish Embassy, to lay a wreath in remembrance of the victims of the 1998 atrocity, the Ambassador said: "I felt I had to come to Omagh, to where this terrible attack took place, in which two Spaniards died."
He added that Spain was all too familiar with the ravages of terrorism.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Felix Valdes, Consul General and member of the Omagh Memorial Working Group, advisory tier, who expressed his delight that just one week after the memorial design competition was advertised in the Spanish media, an enquiry from Spain had already been received by Omagh District Council.
Referring to the 11-M tragedy, when 191 train passengers were killed in a bomb attack by Islamic extremists in Madrid in March 2004, Mr Valdes indicated that he understood the importance of such a tribute to the people of Omagh, and, in particular, the families of victims.
Also present at the reception was Mr Joe Doherty, Mayor of Buncrana, who said that he was "delighted to have received an invitation to be part of this very special occasion". Mr Doherty added: "I was recently delighted to hear that Spanish students are starting to come back to Buncrana. We always look forward to welcoming them, particularly as they are now very much part of the culture and ethos of our area."
Echoing the sentiments of many, Mr Doherty expressed hopes for a peaceful future, while acknowledging the sadness that remains with those who have been affected by the violence of the past.
Having requested a private meeting with the Ambassador, the Omagh Support and Self Help Group had hoped to secure his support for their ongoing dispute with Omagh District Council over what they see as the current eight-year delay in commissioning a memorial, and indeed issues over the ultimate inscription.
To date the group has submitted a proposed inscription, reading, 'To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured, from three nations, by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb', and are angered by their perception that the council will "do whatever they want without regard for the wishes of the families."
The Ambassador is said to have told members that his visit was purely to represent his government, and that it was up to the community of Omagh to deal with issues surrounding the memorial.
Mr Kevin Skelton, vice-chair of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, whose wife, Philomena, was killed in the atrocity, though complimentary about the Ambassador himself, recognised the event as 'a PR exercise', and asserted that "at least the Ambassador was honest enough to say that he was not an elected representative, and, therefore, could do nothing for us." As the search begins for the winning design for a 'permanent fitting memorial to the Omagh bomb', Omagh District Council has expressed a desire that the members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group would re-engage with the Omagh Memorial Working Group, acknowledging that the process 'may cause stress to many people affected by the bomb'.
In addressing the Ambassador, Omagh District Council chairman, Sean Begley, said: "The events of August 15, 1998, were a defining moment in the history of Omagh and indeed Ireland, North and South, when people across the island were galvanised in their support of the peace process. As time moves on, we, in Omagh, Buncrana and Madrid, continue to remember those who lost their lives in a reverent way and continue to support our injured and traumatised. An important part of the healing process is the provision of a permanent memorial, which will be valued and cherished by the whole community." In response to concerns
expressed by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, the council is keen to reassure interested parties that "the Omagh Memorial Working Group has not agreed, nor does it have a preference for, any form of wording for the memorial. Design teams will be invited to propose appropriate wording if they wish, and proposals will be considered by the working group and the advisory panel".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1882
Published Date: 26-Apr-07
Related Images
