TIMETABLE FOR MASS MURDER
TIMETABLE OF MASS MURDER
HOW the horrific events were to unfold on a black Saturday in Omagh, which was one of the busiest shopping days since Christmas.
2.30pm: A phonecall was made to the media, warning of a bomb at the courthouse.
2.31pm: Security forces went to the area around the courthouse, at the top end of the town's High Street.
2.35: Police began evacuating the area, moving many people to the other end of the town where the bomb was to explode.
2.45: People began congregating in a busy shopping area round the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road, several hundred years from the courthouse.
3.10: Bomb explodes close to the junction. Shops were devastated, with building collapsing.
3.11: Staff at Tyrone County Hospital were put on emergency alert and an immediate appeal was issued for doctors and nurses to return.
3.15: Blood-soaked survivors began searching among the rubble for friends and relatives.
4.10: Reports at the scene said eight to 10 people had been killed. The RUC said there were a large number of casualties, but would not confirm any fatalities.
4.15: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott condemned the attack, describing it as a "terrible outrage".
4.25: Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Ken Maginnis said he believed the attack was the work of dissident republicans opposed to the Good Friday peace deal.
4.45: The local ambulance service said up to 12 people had died.
5.25: Prime Minister Tony Blair, holidaying in France, issued a statement condemning "an appalling act of savagery and evil" and vowing to pursue "to the utmost" those responsible.
5.40: SDLP Assembly member Joe Byrne, condemning the attack, revealed that the bomb was on the route of a carnival parade.
5.45: Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern issued a statement promising to "ruthlessly suppress" the terrorists behind the "dastardly attack.
6.00: A statement on behalf of the Queen expressed her shock at the "appalling crime" and asked for "my heartfelt sympathy" to be passed to the bereaved families, injuried and others who had suffered.
6.05: The RUC said up to 100 casualties had been taken to Tyrone County Hospital in two buses.
6.10: SDLP leader John Hume said the bombers were "undiluted fascists" and suspected they were outside politics and involved in crime.
6.12: Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, said children were among the "dozens and dozens" of casualties. Some victims were being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital and South Tyrone Hospitals.
6.20: Erne Hospitals, Enniskillen reported that 46 causalities had been admitted, some after being transferred by helicopter. Some injuries were severe.
6.21: Irish President, Mary McAleese said she was deeply shocked
6.21: Former Irish premier John Bruton, leader of the Fine Gael opposition party, called on Mr Ahern to ask for an immediate meeting between Foreign Minister, David Andrews, and Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, to "co-ordinate an all-Ireland security initiative that would make the commissioning of such outrages impossible".
6.25: West Tyrone MP William Thompson, whose constituency includes Omagh, condemned a "terrible act".
6.40: Tory leader William Hague said in a statement that he stood "full square" behind Government and security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
7.00: The White House condemned the bomb, and said it would not stop President Bill Clinton's planned visit in early September.
7.05: Cardinal Basil Hume, Catholic Archbishop of Westminister asked for prayers for everyone affected by "a crime against humanity"
7.15: Ronnie Flanagan, the RUC Chief Constable said the bombers had given a grossly inaccurate warning, with the intention of committing "bloody murder".
******But as the hours ticked away, the scale of the disaster grew with every passing hour with new names being added to the death list.
HOW the horrific events were to unfold on a black Saturday in Omagh, which was one of the busiest shopping days since Christmas.
2.30pm: A phonecall was made to the media, warning of a bomb at the courthouse.
2.31pm: Security forces went to the area around the courthouse, at the top end of the town's High Street.
2.35: Police began evacuating the area, moving many people to the other end of the town where the bomb was to explode.
2.45: People began congregating in a busy shopping area round the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road, several hundred years from the courthouse.
3.10: Bomb explodes close to the junction. Shops were devastated, with building collapsing.
3.11: Staff at Tyrone County Hospital were put on emergency alert and an immediate appeal was issued for doctors and nurses to return.
3.15: Blood-soaked survivors began searching among the rubble for friends and relatives.
4.10: Reports at the scene said eight to 10 people had been killed. The RUC said there were a large number of casualties, but would not confirm any fatalities.
4.15: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott condemned the attack, describing it as a "terrible outrage".
4.25: Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Ken Maginnis said he believed the attack was the work of dissident republicans opposed to the Good Friday peace deal.
4.45: The local ambulance service said up to 12 people had died.
5.25: Prime Minister Tony Blair, holidaying in France, issued a statement condemning "an appalling act of savagery and evil" and vowing to pursue "to the utmost" those responsible.
5.40: SDLP Assembly member Joe Byrne, condemning the attack, revealed that the bomb was on the route of a carnival parade.
5.45: Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern issued a statement promising to "ruthlessly suppress" the terrorists behind the "dastardly attack.
6.00: A statement on behalf of the Queen expressed her shock at the "appalling crime" and asked for "my heartfelt sympathy" to be passed to the bereaved families, injuried and others who had suffered.
6.05: The RUC said up to 100 casualties had been taken to Tyrone County Hospital in two buses.
6.10: SDLP leader John Hume said the bombers were "undiluted fascists" and suspected they were outside politics and involved in crime.
6.12: Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, said children were among the "dozens and dozens" of casualties. Some victims were being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital and South Tyrone Hospitals.
6.20: Erne Hospitals, Enniskillen reported that 46 causalities had been admitted, some after being transferred by helicopter. Some injuries were severe.
6.21: Irish President, Mary McAleese said she was deeply shocked
6.21: Former Irish premier John Bruton, leader of the Fine Gael opposition party, called on Mr Ahern to ask for an immediate meeting between Foreign Minister, David Andrews, and Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, to "co-ordinate an all-Ireland security initiative that would make the commissioning of such outrages impossible".
6.25: West Tyrone MP William Thompson, whose constituency includes Omagh, condemned a "terrible act".
6.40: Tory leader William Hague said in a statement that he stood "full square" behind Government and security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
7.00: The White House condemned the bomb, and said it would not stop President Bill Clinton's planned visit in early September.
7.05: Cardinal Basil Hume, Catholic Archbishop of Westminister asked for prayers for everyone affected by "a crime against humanity"
7.15: Ronnie Flanagan, the RUC Chief Constable said the bombers had given a grossly inaccurate warning, with the intention of committing "bloody murder".
******But as the hours ticked away, the scale of the disaster grew with every passing hour with new names being added to the death list.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0011
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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