MOTHER TELLS OF FAMILY'S WAIT FOR NEWS OF SON IN OMAGH
Mother tells of family's agonisingly long wait for news of son in Omagh
by Tony Purcell
A LIMERICK mother yesterday spoke of the six torturous hours the family had to endure before they finally knew that her 26-year-old son who works as a counsellor in Omagh was safe and unharmed.
A sudden change of shopping plans saved Gerard from the carnage last Saturday.
His mother, Mrs Philomena Dore, Ballykenny, Strand, near Newcastle West, said her son, Gerard had left his home just outside Omagh to buy a wedding present for a friend.
"He planned to go into Omagh, but changed his mind and went to Belfast. He could have been coming down home in a coffin. Somebody must have been looking after him that day," she said.
On his way back to Omagh, Gerard realised that something had happened when he saw cars abandoned near the hospital and ambulances and helicopters everywhere. But because of damage to telephone lines he was unable to contact his family in Limerick to say he was alright. He tried to leave Omagh to cross the border to make a call but was turned back.
Meanwhile, the family's six hours of waiting at home were just beginning. The ordeal began shortly after 4pm when a relation rang from Manchester to ask if Gerard was alright.
"That was the first I heard of the tragedy and everything went black after that," stated Philomena.
Neither she nor her husband, Tommy, could get an answer from the North, despite many attempts. As the ordeal continued, the Dore phone kept ringing as friends of Gerard enquired about his safety.
And for Philomena one of the worst moments came after the 9 o'clock news bulletin and still no news of their son. "He wouldn't leave us worrying. I felt then something must be wrong."
At 11 o'clock her nephew, Edward Sheehy, who had been in contact with the RUC, left with a colleague for Omagh and by midnight the call to say Gerard was safe came through via London. Gerard himself rang from Manorhamilton the following morning.
"He was still in shock and said 'it is a miracle I'm alive'. Sheila's wedding present saved him," said Philomena. Gerard, who has a master's degree in psychology, then spent the day counselling the Donegal families and the Spanish family who had suffered bereavement.
Gerard's workplace is in Market Street where the bomb which killed 28 people and injured hundreds went off.
Philomena says she now knows what the families in Omagh and in Donegal have gone through and are going through.
"You just pray for the poor creatures left behind," she said.
Meanwhile, the people of Limerick City and County are invited to express their solidarity and sympathy with the people of Omagh at a special Ecumenical Service being held in St. John's Cathedral on Saturday at 3pm.
The Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray said the tragic loss of life and maiming of so many people stimulated a great sense of solidarity with those who have suffered as a result of this atrocity.
"This weekend, all over Ireland and further afield, people will be joining in prayer for God's comfort and for God's gift of peace," he said.
Bishop Murray has asked the clergy in the Diocese of Limerick, that where an ecumenical service cannot be held, parishes should hold a special period of Exposition where people are given the opportunity to pray for the dead and those suffering.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
by Tony Purcell
A LIMERICK mother yesterday spoke of the six torturous hours the family had to endure before they finally knew that her 26-year-old son who works as a counsellor in Omagh was safe and unharmed.
A sudden change of shopping plans saved Gerard from the carnage last Saturday.
His mother, Mrs Philomena Dore, Ballykenny, Strand, near Newcastle West, said her son, Gerard had left his home just outside Omagh to buy a wedding present for a friend.
"He planned to go into Omagh, but changed his mind and went to Belfast. He could have been coming down home in a coffin. Somebody must have been looking after him that day," she said.
On his way back to Omagh, Gerard realised that something had happened when he saw cars abandoned near the hospital and ambulances and helicopters everywhere. But because of damage to telephone lines he was unable to contact his family in Limerick to say he was alright. He tried to leave Omagh to cross the border to make a call but was turned back.
Meanwhile, the family's six hours of waiting at home were just beginning. The ordeal began shortly after 4pm when a relation rang from Manchester to ask if Gerard was alright.
"That was the first I heard of the tragedy and everything went black after that," stated Philomena.
Neither she nor her husband, Tommy, could get an answer from the North, despite many attempts. As the ordeal continued, the Dore phone kept ringing as friends of Gerard enquired about his safety.
And for Philomena one of the worst moments came after the 9 o'clock news bulletin and still no news of their son. "He wouldn't leave us worrying. I felt then something must be wrong."
At 11 o'clock her nephew, Edward Sheehy, who had been in contact with the RUC, left with a colleague for Omagh and by midnight the call to say Gerard was safe came through via London. Gerard himself rang from Manorhamilton the following morning.
"He was still in shock and said 'it is a miracle I'm alive'. Sheila's wedding present saved him," said Philomena. Gerard, who has a master's degree in psychology, then spent the day counselling the Donegal families and the Spanish family who had suffered bereavement.
Gerard's workplace is in Market Street where the bomb which killed 28 people and injured hundreds went off.
Philomena says she now knows what the families in Omagh and in Donegal have gone through and are going through.
"You just pray for the poor creatures left behind," she said.
Meanwhile, the people of Limerick City and County are invited to express their solidarity and sympathy with the people of Omagh at a special Ecumenical Service being held in St. John's Cathedral on Saturday at 3pm.
The Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray said the tragic loss of life and maiming of so many people stimulated a great sense of solidarity with those who have suffered as a result of this atrocity.
"This weekend, all over Ireland and further afield, people will be joining in prayer for God's comfort and for God's gift of peace," he said.
Bishop Murray has asked the clergy in the Diocese of Limerick, that where an ecumenical service cannot be held, parishes should hold a special period of Exposition where people are given the opportunity to pray for the dead and those suffering.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/133
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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