JUSTICE CAMPAIGNER DIES
JUSTICE CAMPAIGNER DIES
BY RYAN MCALEER
Omagh bomb victim's husband Laurence Rush passes away
ONE of the leading campaigners in the search for truth about the Omagh bomb has died.
Laurence Rush (70), whose wife Elizabeth was one of the 29 victims of the August 1998 atrocity, passed away at a nursing home outside Omagh yesterday morning (Sunday) after a long illness.
Mr Rush had been residing in Knockmoyle Lodge care home after suffering a stroke before Christmas 2010. He died surrounded by his family.
A talented artist, the Omagh man taught art in the Christian Brothers Grammar School and Omagh Technical College before going on to set up his own successful business, Rushe Signs.
In recent years Mr Rush had brought a legal case to seek damages from the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the Secretary of State over allegations that police failed to act on prior information gleaned from mobile phone intercepts that a Real IRA bomb was heading for Omagh on August 15 1998.
In February 2011, a judge at the High Court in Belfast overturned a decision in May 2010 to throw out the claim.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Rush's son Anthony said that despite his poor recent health, it was his father's wish that the case would continue.
"While he was in hospital it was dealt with by the rest of the family and his solicitor. He was anxious to keep going. He was tireless in his efforts to get some justice."
Friend Anton McCabe, who had been visiting Mr Rush on a regular basis throughout his recent illness said his persistence significantly moved the families' quest for justice forward.
"He always made it clear that the prime responsibility for the mass murder in Omagh lay with the Real IRA.
"But Laurence also felt that if state agencies had any form of foreknowledge, then those agencies should also be held accountable. That was his view up to the very end."
Fellow justice campaigner Stanley McCombe, who also lost his wife in the 1998 bomb said he always admired Mr Rush for his courage.
"It's a sad loss, he was a character in his own right. He went a different way in his quest for justice than we did, but I can't say he was wrong.
"If he felt that was the way he should go, he was quite entitled to it. I always admired him for his courage in whatever he done."
Mr Rush is survived by his three children Anthony, Siobhan and Andrew. His funeral will take place at 10am on Tuesday in St Mary's Church Drumragh.
BY RYAN MCALEER
Omagh bomb victim's husband Laurence Rush passes away
ONE of the leading campaigners in the search for truth about the Omagh bomb has died.
Laurence Rush (70), whose wife Elizabeth was one of the 29 victims of the August 1998 atrocity, passed away at a nursing home outside Omagh yesterday morning (Sunday) after a long illness.
Mr Rush had been residing in Knockmoyle Lodge care home after suffering a stroke before Christmas 2010. He died surrounded by his family.
A talented artist, the Omagh man taught art in the Christian Brothers Grammar School and Omagh Technical College before going on to set up his own successful business, Rushe Signs.
In recent years Mr Rush had brought a legal case to seek damages from the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the Secretary of State over allegations that police failed to act on prior information gleaned from mobile phone intercepts that a Real IRA bomb was heading for Omagh on August 15 1998.
In February 2011, a judge at the High Court in Belfast overturned a decision in May 2010 to throw out the claim.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Rush's son Anthony said that despite his poor recent health, it was his father's wish that the case would continue.
"While he was in hospital it was dealt with by the rest of the family and his solicitor. He was anxious to keep going. He was tireless in his efforts to get some justice."
Friend Anton McCabe, who had been visiting Mr Rush on a regular basis throughout his recent illness said his persistence significantly moved the families' quest for justice forward.
"He always made it clear that the prime responsibility for the mass murder in Omagh lay with the Real IRA.
"But Laurence also felt that if state agencies had any form of foreknowledge, then those agencies should also be held accountable. That was his view up to the very end."
Fellow justice campaigner Stanley McCombe, who also lost his wife in the 1998 bomb said he always admired Mr Rush for his courage.
"It's a sad loss, he was a character in his own right. He went a different way in his quest for justice than we did, but I can't say he was wrong.
"If he felt that was the way he should go, he was quite entitled to it. I always admired him for his courage in whatever he done."
Mr Rush is survived by his three children Anthony, Siobhan and Andrew. His funeral will take place at 10am on Tuesday in St Mary's Church Drumragh.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/116
Published Date: 05-Mar-12
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