OMAGH FAMILIES SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED AS BOMB MEMORIAL WORDING AGREED
Omagh families 'surprised' and 'delighted' as bomb memorial wording agreed
by Emma Stewart
OMAGH Support and Self-Help Group (OSSHG) has warmly welcomed the decision on the Omagh bomb memorial narrative thanking the facilitation team members for their sensitivity in addressing the thoughts and feelings those directly affected by the 1998 atrocity.
Despite new concerns that their chosen wording - selected for inclusion despite highly public wranglings - might be reduced to 'postage stamp' proportions, the group remain hopeful that this issue can at last reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Following a unanimous decision by Omagh District Council to accept the proposed wording, OSSHG members met Monday to discuss their feelings on the confirmed narrative.
Speaking after the meeting group chairperson, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the August 15 blast, said "The general consensus was that we are pleased that the three-person team had believed our words were important enough to be included in the garden, and we are extremely grateful for that.
"However, we will continue to monitor how the garden develops, as we still have concerns that the writing could be left too small, and become almost insignificant. We will pursue this issue to ensure that we are treated fairly. We are optimistic that this will all be worked out, and will resolve the crisis."
He concluded "I think it is regrettable that this had to develop into the public row that it did, for the same words that we always wanted to ultimately be included. I feel this was unnecessary bad publicity for Omagh and that, to me, is very regrettable."
Also speaking this week Kevin Skelton, whose wife, Philomena, fell victim to the terrorist atrocity expressed his satisfaction with the eventual outcome: "I must say that I was surprised to see that they have included the wording, 'to honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured from three nations by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb". I'm glad that they saw sense, and that the words that we wanted were brought through.
"We acknowledge that we don't speak for all the families, and so we are happy to think that the work of the facilitation team enabled their views to be included.
"I personally would like to thank the Rev Dunlop and his colleagues for their hard work.
However, I think it has to be said that if the council had talked to the families instead of dictating to them in the first place, it wouldn't have come to this, with an outside panel having to come in and do what they did.
"This I believe could have been avoided - but still in all it is very much appreciated.
I hold the panel in the highest esteem."
He continued: "I think now we are just thankful that the thing is finally being put to bed, and that the truth is going to be laid down in stone.
"It feels as though this is the first time that anything has come out in favour of the families - to date it seems like everything has gone against us. I think it will help us, to be honest. I'm just saddened that it had to take people from outside Omagh to get us here, and that it wasn't resolved long ago. It has taken a lot of anguish and worry, but at the end of the day the wording we needed to see is there.
"Now I feel the council should sit down with us and discuss who is going to unveil the new memorial and indeed the arrangements for the anniversary.
Mr Skelton concluded: "Quite honestly I didn't expect the outcome we got - I had to read it a second time to believe it, and I am absolutely delighted that the recommendations were unanimously accepted by the council."
by Emma Stewart
OMAGH Support and Self-Help Group (OSSHG) has warmly welcomed the decision on the Omagh bomb memorial narrative thanking the facilitation team members for their sensitivity in addressing the thoughts and feelings those directly affected by the 1998 atrocity.
Despite new concerns that their chosen wording - selected for inclusion despite highly public wranglings - might be reduced to 'postage stamp' proportions, the group remain hopeful that this issue can at last reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Following a unanimous decision by Omagh District Council to accept the proposed wording, OSSHG members met Monday to discuss their feelings on the confirmed narrative.
Speaking after the meeting group chairperson, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the August 15 blast, said "The general consensus was that we are pleased that the three-person team had believed our words were important enough to be included in the garden, and we are extremely grateful for that.
"However, we will continue to monitor how the garden develops, as we still have concerns that the writing could be left too small, and become almost insignificant. We will pursue this issue to ensure that we are treated fairly. We are optimistic that this will all be worked out, and will resolve the crisis."
He concluded "I think it is regrettable that this had to develop into the public row that it did, for the same words that we always wanted to ultimately be included. I feel this was unnecessary bad publicity for Omagh and that, to me, is very regrettable."
Also speaking this week Kevin Skelton, whose wife, Philomena, fell victim to the terrorist atrocity expressed his satisfaction with the eventual outcome: "I must say that I was surprised to see that they have included the wording, 'to honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured from three nations by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb". I'm glad that they saw sense, and that the words that we wanted were brought through.
"We acknowledge that we don't speak for all the families, and so we are happy to think that the work of the facilitation team enabled their views to be included.
"I personally would like to thank the Rev Dunlop and his colleagues for their hard work.
However, I think it has to be said that if the council had talked to the families instead of dictating to them in the first place, it wouldn't have come to this, with an outside panel having to come in and do what they did.
"This I believe could have been avoided - but still in all it is very much appreciated.
I hold the panel in the highest esteem."
He continued: "I think now we are just thankful that the thing is finally being put to bed, and that the truth is going to be laid down in stone.
"It feels as though this is the first time that anything has come out in favour of the families - to date it seems like everything has gone against us. I think it will help us, to be honest. I'm just saddened that it had to take people from outside Omagh to get us here, and that it wasn't resolved long ago. It has taken a lot of anguish and worry, but at the end of the day the wording we needed to see is there.
"Now I feel the council should sit down with us and discuss who is going to unveil the new memorial and indeed the arrangements for the anniversary.
Mr Skelton concluded: "Quite honestly I didn't expect the outcome we got - I had to read it a second time to believe it, and I am absolutely delighted that the recommendations were unanimously accepted by the council."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1925
Published Date: 13-Mar-08
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