TYH/117

Omgh bomb relatives take part in US programme
BY JOHN McCUSKER

MICHAEL Gallagher, of Omagh Support and Self Help Group, and young people affected by the Omagh bombing, travelled to New York recently to participate in a Young Ambassadors Programme.
The programme, which drew participants from around the world, involved young people aged 14-18 who lost a parent or immediate family in a terrorist attack.
The participants met young people from various countries who have been through similar experiences and spend a week touring New York, meeting with community and political leaders and sharing their story with others.
Oisin Doherty, 17, and Keelan Dillon, 14, from Buncrana took part in the programme. Both are immediate relatives of young Oran Doherty who was among the victims of the Omagh bombing in 1998.
Michael Gallagher, of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, who also travelled with the group, described the visit as a "wonderful opportunity to meet other young victims from around the world including Kenya, Uganda, Argentina, Israel and the US."
"We met some very important people in New York including the Irish and Israeli ambassadors to the UN and the state governor of New Jersey and the New York Fire Commissioner.
"It also included a visit to the 9/11 tribute centre and a trip up the Hudson river on the Fire Department's new £27 million fire boat, named '343' after the 343 fire officers who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks."