BOMB MEMORIAL COMPETITION INSENSITIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL
Bomb memorial competition 'insensitive' and 'disrespectful' -Bereaved family
Sir,
In response to the article of the Omagh Bomb Memorial Working Group in the local newspapers on April 19, as a bereaved father, and along with other bereaved families and the injured, have had previous meetings with the group regarding this matter of a fitting memorial.
I feel our views have not been taken on board and seriously discussed. As we had been on board with the Memorial Working Group for eight-and-a-half years, a memorial stone was chosen and agreed by all , including the Memorial Working Group, with wording that was agreed by the bereaved and injured families which told the truth.
This, the group then found unacceptable it has never been explained to us why this is now deemed as inappropriate.
We tirelessly worked with you (the working group) to what extended to nothing. It is us that have lost our families - not you - so, therefore, we should have the right to choose what is fitting for our loved ones.
All we have asked for in previous meetings is for a memorial that is fitting for those bereaved and injured, and to inform all of the cause of how they were unjustifiably killed in cold blood, and who was responsible.
The inscription needs to be exacting in how this terrible injustice happened, and to ensure these innocent people will never be forgotten. We at least owe them this much. As a grouping, I can't understand why you are preventing us from doing this.
Who are we insulting or offending? Surely you are not afraid of offending the perpetrators.
As I drive around certain areas, I see memorials erected for terrorist groups who have not got permission from planning. They choose their own words, and in detail. Why do you not question this, or demolish these unlicensed memorials?
I can't believe that you have the audacity to even put it out to tender as a competition. Do you actually think that an atrocity such as this should be handled this way? I feel you are treating this whole thing insensitively and disrespecting the families. It should be solely for those bereaved and injured, involved with the Omagh Bomb. If there was any decency or humanity, you would contact the victims' families, to honour their wishes, before going ahead with this - leaving the victims with the final decision.
Have you forgotten how it grasped the world's attention, and how Omagh was inundated with dignitaries, who felt they needed to come to show respect - and what does the council do - advertise it as a competition. Next you will be advertising it as a phone-in vote for the best memorial, inadvertently ignoring our requests. You have done nothing to make us respect or have confidence in you. The actions you have taken have shown that you are again bringing the whole aspect of the Omagh victims into a bad light. We are fighting many a battle, as hard as it may be, but least of all we expected our local council to assist us with our ongoing wishes.
Yours,
Painfully acknowledged by
Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Wilson, Garry Wilson, Colin Wilson and Denise Kerrigan (mother and father, brothers and sister - bereaved family of Lorraine Wilson)
Sir,
In response to the article of the Omagh Bomb Memorial Working Group in the local newspapers on April 19, as a bereaved father, and along with other bereaved families and the injured, have had previous meetings with the group regarding this matter of a fitting memorial.
I feel our views have not been taken on board and seriously discussed. As we had been on board with the Memorial Working Group for eight-and-a-half years, a memorial stone was chosen and agreed by all , including the Memorial Working Group, with wording that was agreed by the bereaved and injured families which told the truth.
This, the group then found unacceptable it has never been explained to us why this is now deemed as inappropriate.
We tirelessly worked with you (the working group) to what extended to nothing. It is us that have lost our families - not you - so, therefore, we should have the right to choose what is fitting for our loved ones.
All we have asked for in previous meetings is for a memorial that is fitting for those bereaved and injured, and to inform all of the cause of how they were unjustifiably killed in cold blood, and who was responsible.
The inscription needs to be exacting in how this terrible injustice happened, and to ensure these innocent people will never be forgotten. We at least owe them this much. As a grouping, I can't understand why you are preventing us from doing this.
Who are we insulting or offending? Surely you are not afraid of offending the perpetrators.
As I drive around certain areas, I see memorials erected for terrorist groups who have not got permission from planning. They choose their own words, and in detail. Why do you not question this, or demolish these unlicensed memorials?
I can't believe that you have the audacity to even put it out to tender as a competition. Do you actually think that an atrocity such as this should be handled this way? I feel you are treating this whole thing insensitively and disrespecting the families. It should be solely for those bereaved and injured, involved with the Omagh Bomb. If there was any decency or humanity, you would contact the victims' families, to honour their wishes, before going ahead with this - leaving the victims with the final decision.
Have you forgotten how it grasped the world's attention, and how Omagh was inundated with dignitaries, who felt they needed to come to show respect - and what does the council do - advertise it as a competition. Next you will be advertising it as a phone-in vote for the best memorial, inadvertently ignoring our requests. You have done nothing to make us respect or have confidence in you. The actions you have taken have shown that you are again bringing the whole aspect of the Omagh victims into a bad light. We are fighting many a battle, as hard as it may be, but least of all we expected our local council to assist us with our ongoing wishes.
Yours,
Painfully acknowledged by
Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Wilson, Garry Wilson, Colin Wilson and Denise Kerrigan (mother and father, brothers and sister - bereaved family of Lorraine Wilson)
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1883
Published Date: 03-May-07
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