OMAGH MAN ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL VICTIMS OF TERRIORISM CONFERENCE IN MADRID
Omagh man addresses international victims of terrorism conference in Madrid
by Emma Blee
Omagh man, Billy Jameson, has just returned from Madrid where he addressed more than 500 delegates at an 'International conference for the victims of terrorism'.
Mr Jameson was invited to the conference to speak about his own personal experiences of terrorism after his wife and son were injured in the Omagh bomb in 1998.
Speaking after the conference, Mr Jameson said it had been a positive experience: "I learned at the conference that people need to realise we're not the only victims in the world that have been affected by terrorism. We were told some horrific stories about experiences others have had but we were all working from one aim - helping the survivors of terrorism.
"I was trying to counteract terrorism and make people more aware that every country is affected by it, not only the UK and USA. The whole conference was centered on the survivors."
He added: "My own wife and son were caught up in the bomb, but they survived. This conference was about those survivors and the relatives of those who died. That is what I focused on and my speech was based on my own personal experience and the work I have been involved in for the past 11 years.
"I think it is important that we allow time for reflection, reflection on the work that we do as members of victim/survivor support groups. Because if we don't we run the risk of losing, losing the very ethos of what we set out to do, what we are about. "The vision of what I set out to achieve was 'to promote, advocate and address where possible, the needs of victims of the conflict in Ireland in order to achieve health, peace of mind, security and the foundations for personal growth.' This vision has given me and many others the courage and inspiration to work to develop support networks to meet the very real needs of the survivors of Omagh."
by Emma Blee
Omagh man, Billy Jameson, has just returned from Madrid where he addressed more than 500 delegates at an 'International conference for the victims of terrorism'.
Mr Jameson was invited to the conference to speak about his own personal experiences of terrorism after his wife and son were injured in the Omagh bomb in 1998.
Speaking after the conference, Mr Jameson said it had been a positive experience: "I learned at the conference that people need to realise we're not the only victims in the world that have been affected by terrorism. We were told some horrific stories about experiences others have had but we were all working from one aim - helping the survivors of terrorism.
"I was trying to counteract terrorism and make people more aware that every country is affected by it, not only the UK and USA. The whole conference was centered on the survivors."
He added: "My own wife and son were caught up in the bomb, but they survived. This conference was about those survivors and the relatives of those who died. That is what I focused on and my speech was based on my own personal experience and the work I have been involved in for the past 11 years.
"I think it is important that we allow time for reflection, reflection on the work that we do as members of victim/survivor support groups. Because if we don't we run the risk of losing, losing the very ethos of what we set out to do, what we are about. "The vision of what I set out to achieve was 'to promote, advocate and address where possible, the needs of victims of the conflict in Ireland in order to achieve health, peace of mind, security and the foundations for personal growth.' This vision has given me and many others the courage and inspiration to work to develop support networks to meet the very real needs of the survivors of Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1989
Published Date: 25-Feb-10
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