CIVIL CASE HEARS EVIDENCE ABOUT LIVES RUINED
Civil case hears evidence about lives ruined
THE civil case which the Omagh families is taking has heard harrowing evidence from a brother who shielded his sister Esther Gibson so that mourners would not realise how bad her injuries were. Edmund Gibson was one of the Omagh families to gave evidence in the landmark civil case against the suspected bombers which resumed last week.
The policeman said he was traumatised that Esther was taken, not him. He joined a clean-up operation after the explosion not realising his sister was on the street He stood beside her coffin so that none of the family or friends would realise how bad things were.
"I was told no-one should touch her as there was nothing behind her face and chest. When it came to carrying the coffin I almost collapsed as I was so exhausted from the emotion of standing in Esther's room for two days.
"I felt at this stage that I was wiping away everyone else's tears and had no tears left to cry myself".
Following the bomb post-traumatic stress set in and Mr Gibson was unable to carry out his job and he eventually retired on medical grounds. He had been haunted by guilt that he should have lifted his sister's body as he helped clear debris from the bomb scene.
Mr Gibson's wife Heather also said he had never got over what had happened to his sister with his sense of pride and love of sports wiped out.
"It's as if he had been in the bomb" she said.
Mr Gibson's account of his family's loss is one of the many who have said their families have been wrecked by the bomb with members turning to drink or contemplating suicide. The families' lawyers confirmed that two who lost wives are seeking �225,000 and �160,000 for loss of dependency and loss of services.
One of them is Mark Breslin whose wife Geraldine (43) was killed. Brett Lockhart QC read out statements to the High Court from doctors who treated his dying wife.
All sides in the action against Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly sat in silence as their accounts were read out.
The mother of Lorraine Wilson said the family were blighted with grief which led to rows, attempted suicides and heavier alcohol dependency. Her youngest son had been worst hit by the whole tragedy and ended up sleeping in a mattress in their bedroom.
"He had gone from having a happy family to one who were bitter and upset, drinking and argumentative."
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday in Dublin.
THE civil case which the Omagh families is taking has heard harrowing evidence from a brother who shielded his sister Esther Gibson so that mourners would not realise how bad her injuries were. Edmund Gibson was one of the Omagh families to gave evidence in the landmark civil case against the suspected bombers which resumed last week.
The policeman said he was traumatised that Esther was taken, not him. He joined a clean-up operation after the explosion not realising his sister was on the street He stood beside her coffin so that none of the family or friends would realise how bad things were.
"I was told no-one should touch her as there was nothing behind her face and chest. When it came to carrying the coffin I almost collapsed as I was so exhausted from the emotion of standing in Esther's room for two days.
"I felt at this stage that I was wiping away everyone else's tears and had no tears left to cry myself".
Following the bomb post-traumatic stress set in and Mr Gibson was unable to carry out his job and he eventually retired on medical grounds. He had been haunted by guilt that he should have lifted his sister's body as he helped clear debris from the bomb scene.
Mr Gibson's wife Heather also said he had never got over what had happened to his sister with his sense of pride and love of sports wiped out.
"It's as if he had been in the bomb" she said.
Mr Gibson's account of his family's loss is one of the many who have said their families have been wrecked by the bomb with members turning to drink or contemplating suicide. The families' lawyers confirmed that two who lost wives are seeking �225,000 and �160,000 for loss of dependency and loss of services.
One of them is Mark Breslin whose wife Geraldine (43) was killed. Brett Lockhart QC read out statements to the High Court from doctors who treated his dying wife.
All sides in the action against Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly sat in silence as their accounts were read out.
The mother of Lorraine Wilson said the family were blighted with grief which led to rows, attempted suicides and heavier alcohol dependency. Her youngest son had been worst hit by the whole tragedy and ended up sleeping in a mattress in their bedroom.
"He had gone from having a happy family to one who were bitter and upset, drinking and argumentative."
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday in Dublin.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/078
Published Date: 29-Sep-08
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