COUNCIL APPLAUDS WORK OF FACILITATION TEAM ON IMPOSSIBLE TASK
Council applauds work of facilitation team on 'impossible task'
by Emma Stewart
Members of Omagh District Council have applauded the work of the Independent Facilitation Team in their construction of a widely approved narrative for the Omagh bomb memorial.
Noting that the independent facilitators had held over 80 meetings and had come to the conclusion that 'no single group represents all the bereaved, injured and those deeply affected by the bomb', council chairman, Bert Wilson, said that such an acknowledgement corroborated the council's decision to embark on an independent facilitation process.
In speaking of the significance of the process in reaching a balanced and sensitive outcome, the chairman added that Rev Dr John Dunlop had advised that the team had spoken to the vast majority of bereaved families and to a wide range of others, including families and individuals directly affected by the bomb, who had never
spoken to anyone before about their experiences.
Mr Wilson said: "The lengthy narrative tells the story of 15 August, 1998, in a sensitive, factual, yet inspirational manner and takes on board the diverse views which exist amongst the victims".
Pleased by the outcome, he said: "I agree that the wording put forward and finalised is a fair recollection of what happened that day - it marks out accurately the terrifying events, and the journey we took in the aftermath of the bomb."
Refuting the suggestion that the council was in any way colluding to prevent the inclusion of specific wording, and emphasising that the panel were 'given a free hand', he continued: "I do hope that this matter can be brought to a close, and that the council and bereaved relatives can work together now towards the 10th anniversary, singing from the same hymn sheet, and enabling this to be brought to a close".
He concluded: "The panel did a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances, and are to be congratulated on that".
Speaking following the panel's initial presentation of their findings, local councillors were vocal in their approbation for the recommended narrative.
Commending the trio's efforts, Sinn Fein's Sean Clarke said: "You couldn't be paid for what was done, because it was an impossible task".
UUP councillor, Allan Rainey, thanked Dr Dunlop and his team, expressing hopes that the memorial garden would now be a 'place of reflection' for those still healing after the tragic events of almost 10 years ago.
Noting a sense of 'satisfaction at a job well done', SDLP councillor Pat McDonnell said that the narrative is "infused with decency, humanity, compassion and hope", and noted the council's unified response as the 'best answer to the depraved and deluded people who brought horror to Omagh'.
Calling it 'satisfying to everyone', DUP MLA, Tom Buchanan, added his belief that the 'dark days' of the past are increasingly behind us: "hopefully now we have moved on... into a new era, a new peaceful process".
The recommendations of the Independent Facilitation Team have also been unanimously endorsed by Omagh Memorial Working Group, which includes representatives of the three Governments, and have also been warmly welcomed by representatives of the local Churches who met with the Independent Facilitation Team on Friday to learn of their findings.
A council spokesperson noted that: "Initial indications are that a number of individual families have already contacted the Council to register their support for the narrative and that those families represented by Omagh Support and Self Help Group have also informally indicated their support."
Omagh District Council will now correspond with each of the bereaved families to seek their approval for the inclusion of then-loved one's name on the memorial, together with their decision on the inclusion of town or townland.
by Emma Stewart
Members of Omagh District Council have applauded the work of the Independent Facilitation Team in their construction of a widely approved narrative for the Omagh bomb memorial.
Noting that the independent facilitators had held over 80 meetings and had come to the conclusion that 'no single group represents all the bereaved, injured and those deeply affected by the bomb', council chairman, Bert Wilson, said that such an acknowledgement corroborated the council's decision to embark on an independent facilitation process.
In speaking of the significance of the process in reaching a balanced and sensitive outcome, the chairman added that Rev Dr John Dunlop had advised that the team had spoken to the vast majority of bereaved families and to a wide range of others, including families and individuals directly affected by the bomb, who had never
spoken to anyone before about their experiences.
Mr Wilson said: "The lengthy narrative tells the story of 15 August, 1998, in a sensitive, factual, yet inspirational manner and takes on board the diverse views which exist amongst the victims".
Pleased by the outcome, he said: "I agree that the wording put forward and finalised is a fair recollection of what happened that day - it marks out accurately the terrifying events, and the journey we took in the aftermath of the bomb."
Refuting the suggestion that the council was in any way colluding to prevent the inclusion of specific wording, and emphasising that the panel were 'given a free hand', he continued: "I do hope that this matter can be brought to a close, and that the council and bereaved relatives can work together now towards the 10th anniversary, singing from the same hymn sheet, and enabling this to be brought to a close".
He concluded: "The panel did a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances, and are to be congratulated on that".
Speaking following the panel's initial presentation of their findings, local councillors were vocal in their approbation for the recommended narrative.
Commending the trio's efforts, Sinn Fein's Sean Clarke said: "You couldn't be paid for what was done, because it was an impossible task".
UUP councillor, Allan Rainey, thanked Dr Dunlop and his team, expressing hopes that the memorial garden would now be a 'place of reflection' for those still healing after the tragic events of almost 10 years ago.
Noting a sense of 'satisfaction at a job well done', SDLP councillor Pat McDonnell said that the narrative is "infused with decency, humanity, compassion and hope", and noted the council's unified response as the 'best answer to the depraved and deluded people who brought horror to Omagh'.
Calling it 'satisfying to everyone', DUP MLA, Tom Buchanan, added his belief that the 'dark days' of the past are increasingly behind us: "hopefully now we have moved on... into a new era, a new peaceful process".
The recommendations of the Independent Facilitation Team have also been unanimously endorsed by Omagh Memorial Working Group, which includes representatives of the three Governments, and have also been warmly welcomed by representatives of the local Churches who met with the Independent Facilitation Team on Friday to learn of their findings.
A council spokesperson noted that: "Initial indications are that a number of individual families have already contacted the Council to register their support for the narrative and that those families represented by Omagh Support and Self Help Group have also informally indicated their support."
Omagh District Council will now correspond with each of the bereaved families to seek their approval for the inclusion of then-loved one's name on the memorial, together with their decision on the inclusion of town or townland.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1928
Published Date: 13-Mar-08
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