BOMB BEREAVED CONDEMNS MARKET STREET EFFIGY
Bomb bereaved condemns Market Street 'effigy'
by Emma Stewart
LAWRENCE Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the 1998 Omagh Bomb atrocity, struck out at Omagh District Council this week, criticising the ongoing memorial process which will see an 'effigy' erected at the site of her death, and called for a more 'beneficial' tribute to those whose lives were lost.
Speaking at the launch of the Independent Facilitation Team, selected to make recommendations on a wording for the memorial, Mr Rush expressed resignation at the process, saying: "I don't know how you can help."
Criticising the 'Garden of Light' design selected, he said: "I don't know that you can mediate on this... we were not consulted on this memorial."
While chief executive of Omagh District Council, Mr Danny McSorley, highlighted the various consultation exercises carried out throughout the selection process, Mr Rush remained adamant in his opposition: "I personally don't want to have a memorial... what we have here is a glass memorial of holistic lighting... it is nothing like a gravestone."
He continued: "My memorial is, I have children, I have grandchildren, and they're a fitting memorial for me. I don't need any effigies around the town."
Criticising the council's approach to selection, he condemned the use of the word 'competition' in the choice of design for such an emotive subject matter, and expressed his belief that the families had only been notified of the process, after it had already begun.
Distressed at the prospect of a memorial in an area of town he tends to avoid, he added "I'm going to be confronted here, opposite the place my wife was found dead - murdered. "
He continued: "I don't think, generally, most of the victims need this".
When offered a confidential meeting to discuss his concerns, Mr Rush rejected the panel's approaches: "I'm not asking for confidentiality, it has been made a public matter by council. They have gone ahead without my permission, or anyone else's, to put up this memorial."
He concluded: "A more fitting memorial for the people, and young people, of Omagh would be a bursary, a scholarship - something that's going to live on, something that's beneficial, something that's going to come out of a horrendous situation.
"Why not something that enlightens people? Why not something that is good for the youth - the future of this country?"
Speaking on Tuesday, Michael Gallagher, chairman of Omagh Support and Self-Help Group voiced his feelings on the memorial issue: "We have absolutely no difficulty with the integrity or makeup of the team. However, from the families' point of view, we are disappointed that the council did not consult with us - that we had no input into the process they've now arrived at."
by Emma Stewart
LAWRENCE Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the 1998 Omagh Bomb atrocity, struck out at Omagh District Council this week, criticising the ongoing memorial process which will see an 'effigy' erected at the site of her death, and called for a more 'beneficial' tribute to those whose lives were lost.
Speaking at the launch of the Independent Facilitation Team, selected to make recommendations on a wording for the memorial, Mr Rush expressed resignation at the process, saying: "I don't know how you can help."
Criticising the 'Garden of Light' design selected, he said: "I don't know that you can mediate on this... we were not consulted on this memorial."
While chief executive of Omagh District Council, Mr Danny McSorley, highlighted the various consultation exercises carried out throughout the selection process, Mr Rush remained adamant in his opposition: "I personally don't want to have a memorial... what we have here is a glass memorial of holistic lighting... it is nothing like a gravestone."
He continued: "My memorial is, I have children, I have grandchildren, and they're a fitting memorial for me. I don't need any effigies around the town."
Criticising the council's approach to selection, he condemned the use of the word 'competition' in the choice of design for such an emotive subject matter, and expressed his belief that the families had only been notified of the process, after it had already begun.
Distressed at the prospect of a memorial in an area of town he tends to avoid, he added "I'm going to be confronted here, opposite the place my wife was found dead - murdered. "
He continued: "I don't think, generally, most of the victims need this".
When offered a confidential meeting to discuss his concerns, Mr Rush rejected the panel's approaches: "I'm not asking for confidentiality, it has been made a public matter by council. They have gone ahead without my permission, or anyone else's, to put up this memorial."
He concluded: "A more fitting memorial for the people, and young people, of Omagh would be a bursary, a scholarship - something that's going to live on, something that's beneficial, something that's going to come out of a horrendous situation.
"Why not something that enlightens people? Why not something that is good for the youth - the future of this country?"
Speaking on Tuesday, Michael Gallagher, chairman of Omagh Support and Self-Help Group voiced his feelings on the memorial issue: "We have absolutely no difficulty with the integrity or makeup of the team. However, from the families' point of view, we are disappointed that the council did not consult with us - that we had no input into the process they've now arrived at."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1895
Published Date: 01-Nov-07
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