OMAGH FAMILIES AT MOVIE PREMIERE
OMAGH FAMILIES AT MOVIE PREMIERE
By ROBERT STANSFIELD at the premiere of Omagh
Watching the film was the most painful thing I've been through since the bombing - MICHEAL GALLAGHER YESTERDAY
GODFREY Wilson could not hold back the tears yesterday as he watched the last moments of his teenage daughter's life flash before his eyes.
He and his wife Ann were keeping a painful promise to the memory of Lorraine, 15, who died in the Real IRA blast in Omagh, Co Tyrone, which killed 28 others and unborn twins.
They were among some of the families of the dead to see the first screening of the TV movie Omagh, which reconstructs the massacre. At a second screening last night more relatives found the strain too much and left in tears after the explosion was shown.
As the lights went up after the first preview in Belfast's Europa Hotel, Mr Wilson admitted: "It was nearly unbearable to watch the first part of the film.
"It showed all the events leading up to the moment of the bomb and it was heartbreaking to see the young actress playing our daughter laughing and joking with her friends just before the explosion.
"It was just the way she was, always happy and friendly. Although it broke our hearts to watch, we promised we would do anything - to keep their memories alive and get justice for them.
"I don't know if this will persuade some people to come forward with the new information that the police need to prosecute those responsible.
"But I have my doubts if this will change any hearts."
His wife Ann said: "It would be impossible for anyone who has gone through what we have had to suffer and not be moved to tears.
"Please God it will move those who have the information we need."
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann was killed, said: "It's a very powerful drama and pulls no punches. We knew it was going to be tough to watch but it was harder than we imagined.
"Some of the families decided that they couldn't bear to watch it and I can understand why.
"But we all know how important is to keep the pressure and keep what happened in the public eye.
"We can't just sit back and let people forget about Omagh in the same way that many other tragedies have been ignored.
"We made a promise to our loved ones that we would do everything we could to get justice for them.
"If it means having to endure further agony ourselves then we will do it."
The muffled sobs of the audience underscored the film soundtrack as the horror built up to the explosion, carrying them back to the dreadful day on August 15, 1998.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan, 21, died in the blast, said the world must see their struggle for justice.
The 54-year-old added: "I'm totally shattered and emotionally drained after watching the movie.
"It felt like I was living every minute of the horror over again - it is the most painful thing I've been through since the bombing.
"It is unbearably hard to relive things you've spent five years trying to forget.
"The atmosphere at the screening could be cut with a knife, you could actually taste the anguish.
"From start to finish most of the people affected by the tragedy never moved, they just sat there in a very respectful and strained silence.
"It became a bit too much for one person who had to leave the room but most of us held ourselves together.
"The most difficult part for me was seeing the moment we knew Aidan wasn't coming home. It all just flooded back so vividly.
"But reliving that pain is worth it if it means the world hears our story."
The feature-length drama, by the award-winning Bloody Sunday team, has the blessing of most of the victims' families.
Mr Gallagher added: "The families were contacted very early on and the production company kept in touch letting us read the scripts.
"They support our view on everything that has happened since the bomb.
"Basically we have told them our journey through the last five years.
"It is incredibly close to what we went through. They have made a remarkable job of being as accurate as possible and none of the families said they got it wrong.
"It is the true story of our fight to have questions answered by the British and Irish Governments and two police forces. Television is a very powerful medium to tell our light for justice, to tell people that the pain, betrayal and emotion caused by the wickedness of terrorism.
"The message of this film is that a group of families, Protestant and Catholic, put aside their differences and came together for justice and peace against the tide of indifference.
"It shows in the midst of evil and wickedness, hope comes from despair and ordinary people can't let the terrorists win.
"Our friends and family that were killed are not just numbers or statistics - they are individuals."
Mr GALLAGHER, who has spoken on behalf of the Omagh victims, is a key figure in the production.
He is played by actor Gerard McSorley, who starred alongside Cate Blanchett in last year's hit Irish movie Veronica Guerin.
Mr Gallagher said: "It is very strange seeing yourself being' played on screen but Gerard did an amazing- job.
"Because he is from the town he has brought a deeper passion, emotion and understanding to it."
Mr McSorley added: "My main concern was to represent the psychological life of the man and his family.
"I don't know what it is about Michael Gallagher but he has a very quiet, still charisma.
"In some ways his quietness is a devastating' embarrassment to the authorities who he seeks to get answers from. It's been a harrowing thing to do but as an Irish actor I'm very proud to be the person chosen to tell the story.
"There, is universality to this anybody, anywhere in the world will recognise the pain and loss of the Gallagher family."
Production companies Hells Kitchen, makers of In America and Tiger Aspect and the team behind smash hit Billy Elliot, made the film with the backing of the Irish Film Board, Channel 4 and RTE.
Writer of the Bloody Sunday film, Paul Greengrass, and Guy Hibbert based the movie on firsthand research and consultation with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
Mr Greengrass said: "The Omagh bomb remains the single greatest atrocity of the Troubles - it marked the moment everyone knew the conflict had to end."
Omagh relatives are still calling for a public Inquiry into the attack and launched their legal bid to sue five men last month.
The civil case against Michael McKevitt, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly is expected to begin early next year in the civil case.
Murphy is the only person jailed for plotting the Omagh attack but no one has been charged with murder or planting the bomb.
By ROBERT STANSFIELD at the premiere of Omagh
Watching the film was the most painful thing I've been through since the bombing - MICHEAL GALLAGHER YESTERDAY
GODFREY Wilson could not hold back the tears yesterday as he watched the last moments of his teenage daughter's life flash before his eyes.
He and his wife Ann were keeping a painful promise to the memory of Lorraine, 15, who died in the Real IRA blast in Omagh, Co Tyrone, which killed 28 others and unborn twins.
They were among some of the families of the dead to see the first screening of the TV movie Omagh, which reconstructs the massacre. At a second screening last night more relatives found the strain too much and left in tears after the explosion was shown.
As the lights went up after the first preview in Belfast's Europa Hotel, Mr Wilson admitted: "It was nearly unbearable to watch the first part of the film.
"It showed all the events leading up to the moment of the bomb and it was heartbreaking to see the young actress playing our daughter laughing and joking with her friends just before the explosion.
"It was just the way she was, always happy and friendly. Although it broke our hearts to watch, we promised we would do anything - to keep their memories alive and get justice for them.
"I don't know if this will persuade some people to come forward with the new information that the police need to prosecute those responsible.
"But I have my doubts if this will change any hearts."
His wife Ann said: "It would be impossible for anyone who has gone through what we have had to suffer and not be moved to tears.
"Please God it will move those who have the information we need."
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann was killed, said: "It's a very powerful drama and pulls no punches. We knew it was going to be tough to watch but it was harder than we imagined.
"Some of the families decided that they couldn't bear to watch it and I can understand why.
"But we all know how important is to keep the pressure and keep what happened in the public eye.
"We can't just sit back and let people forget about Omagh in the same way that many other tragedies have been ignored.
"We made a promise to our loved ones that we would do everything we could to get justice for them.
"If it means having to endure further agony ourselves then we will do it."
The muffled sobs of the audience underscored the film soundtrack as the horror built up to the explosion, carrying them back to the dreadful day on August 15, 1998.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan, 21, died in the blast, said the world must see their struggle for justice.
The 54-year-old added: "I'm totally shattered and emotionally drained after watching the movie.
"It felt like I was living every minute of the horror over again - it is the most painful thing I've been through since the bombing.
"It is unbearably hard to relive things you've spent five years trying to forget.
"The atmosphere at the screening could be cut with a knife, you could actually taste the anguish.
"From start to finish most of the people affected by the tragedy never moved, they just sat there in a very respectful and strained silence.
"It became a bit too much for one person who had to leave the room but most of us held ourselves together.
"The most difficult part for me was seeing the moment we knew Aidan wasn't coming home. It all just flooded back so vividly.
"But reliving that pain is worth it if it means the world hears our story."
The feature-length drama, by the award-winning Bloody Sunday team, has the blessing of most of the victims' families.
Mr Gallagher added: "The families were contacted very early on and the production company kept in touch letting us read the scripts.
"They support our view on everything that has happened since the bomb.
"Basically we have told them our journey through the last five years.
"It is incredibly close to what we went through. They have made a remarkable job of being as accurate as possible and none of the families said they got it wrong.
"It is the true story of our fight to have questions answered by the British and Irish Governments and two police forces. Television is a very powerful medium to tell our light for justice, to tell people that the pain, betrayal and emotion caused by the wickedness of terrorism.
"The message of this film is that a group of families, Protestant and Catholic, put aside their differences and came together for justice and peace against the tide of indifference.
"It shows in the midst of evil and wickedness, hope comes from despair and ordinary people can't let the terrorists win.
"Our friends and family that were killed are not just numbers or statistics - they are individuals."
Mr GALLAGHER, who has spoken on behalf of the Omagh victims, is a key figure in the production.
He is played by actor Gerard McSorley, who starred alongside Cate Blanchett in last year's hit Irish movie Veronica Guerin.
Mr Gallagher said: "It is very strange seeing yourself being' played on screen but Gerard did an amazing- job.
"Because he is from the town he has brought a deeper passion, emotion and understanding to it."
Mr McSorley added: "My main concern was to represent the psychological life of the man and his family.
"I don't know what it is about Michael Gallagher but he has a very quiet, still charisma.
"In some ways his quietness is a devastating' embarrassment to the authorities who he seeks to get answers from. It's been a harrowing thing to do but as an Irish actor I'm very proud to be the person chosen to tell the story.
"There, is universality to this anybody, anywhere in the world will recognise the pain and loss of the Gallagher family."
Production companies Hells Kitchen, makers of In America and Tiger Aspect and the team behind smash hit Billy Elliot, made the film with the backing of the Irish Film Board, Channel 4 and RTE.
Writer of the Bloody Sunday film, Paul Greengrass, and Guy Hibbert based the movie on firsthand research and consultation with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
Mr Greengrass said: "The Omagh bomb remains the single greatest atrocity of the Troubles - it marked the moment everyone knew the conflict had to end."
Omagh relatives are still calling for a public Inquiry into the attack and launched their legal bid to sue five men last month.
The civil case against Michael McKevitt, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly is expected to begin early next year in the civil case.
Murphy is the only person jailed for plotting the Omagh attack but no one has been charged with murder or planting the bomb.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/210
Published Date: 10-May-04
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