HEADMASTER PAYS TRIBUTE TO PUPILS WHO PERISHED
Headmaster pays tribute to pupils who perished
OMAGH HIGH SCHOOL LEFT STUNNED BY DEATHS OF FOUR STUDENTS
FOUR of those who died were pupils or past pupils of Omagh High School, and this week headmaster, Bill Harper paid tribute to the "outstanding children" who had everything to live for.
Current pupils and best friends, Samantha McFarland (17) and Lorraine Wilson (15) had part-time voluntary jobs in the town's Oxfam charity shop.
They died alongside 15-year-old Alan Radford who was expecting his GCSE results this week.
Former pupil, Deborah Cartwright (20) had devoted much of her time to working at cross-community projects before leaving the school four years ago. She too was remembered this week by Mr Harper.
The headmaster said "These children had everything to live for. They were outstanding children. As teachers we work for the future of the young people and to have it cut so drastically is incomprehensible.
"GCSE results were due to be released this week, but they are now secondary in my thoughts. They seem to pale into insignificance as a result of the gravity of the situation we are faced with."
Samantha McFarland left Omagh High just last year and was currently studying for her A-levels at Strabane College.
She was a keen sportswoman and also did charity work with Riding For The Disabled and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. The James Bulger Appeal was also among the charities she contributed to.
In a thank-you note posted to her former school, Samantha thanked staff for the "enjoyable time" she had spent there.
"I feel I have gained much from Omagh High School and will remember it with pride" the note added.
Her aunt, Rita Ewing recalled her "beautiful young niece" whose life was so tragically cut short.
"Samantha was a wonderful, happy happy girl, a very pretty girl. She loved her parents and brothers dearly. She loved everybody and loved life.
"How anyone can do this is beyond belief she added.
For the past six weeks, Samantha worked voluntarily in Barnardo's shop in town and this week the charity expressed its deepest sympathy to her bereaved family.
"Our deputy shop manager, Patricia D'Arcy has also lost her brother, Brian McCrory.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to both families concerned" added Barnardo's.
Lorraine Wilson was due to begin her final GCSE year in September.
Mr Harper also described her as a model pupil who participated fully within the school.
"Lorraine collected for charity and served with distinction in the school hockey team.
"We have a prize night each year and at the last one, she was up on stage line dancing."
Like hundreds of other GCSE pupils, Alan Radford was due to receive his results this week.
He died instantly in the blast, but his family had to wait an agonising 24 hours before his body was positively identified.
This week, as his brother Paul (29) prepared himself for the funeral, he recalled the "gentle lad" who went shopping with his mother most Saturdays.
"He carried her bags for her. He was such a good lad.
"But Alan slipped away from his mum to do a bit of his own shopping.
"He wandered into Market Street and seconds later the bomb went off he added.
His mother received shrapnel wounds in the explosion but was not seriously hurt.
Following a visit to the Radford family home, Mr Harper said everyone was "living through a nightmare."
"Alan's mother told me she still expects the door to open at any time and Alan to walk in at any moment" he added.
Policeman's daughter, Deborah Cartwright left Omagh High School in 1994.
Mr Harper said "She was a prefect and excelled at cross-community activities with Catholic schools in the town.
"She went to Denmark for two weeks and brought some Danes back to Omagh to live with both Protestant and Catholic families.
"I visited Deborah's family last night and on the wall was a beautiful photograph of Deborah. It brought back to me just how strikingly beautiful she was" he added.
Mr Harper also praised other pupils from the school who were involved in Saturday afternoon's rescue operation, adding that he was proud of all who had offered their services.
"I think the families and people of Omagh both need to grieve personally and as a community. But I really want this to be the last atrocity in Northern Ireland. We have paid a shocking price" he added.
OMAGH HIGH SCHOOL LEFT STUNNED BY DEATHS OF FOUR STUDENTS
FOUR of those who died were pupils or past pupils of Omagh High School, and this week headmaster, Bill Harper paid tribute to the "outstanding children" who had everything to live for.
Current pupils and best friends, Samantha McFarland (17) and Lorraine Wilson (15) had part-time voluntary jobs in the town's Oxfam charity shop.
They died alongside 15-year-old Alan Radford who was expecting his GCSE results this week.
Former pupil, Deborah Cartwright (20) had devoted much of her time to working at cross-community projects before leaving the school four years ago. She too was remembered this week by Mr Harper.
The headmaster said "These children had everything to live for. They were outstanding children. As teachers we work for the future of the young people and to have it cut so drastically is incomprehensible.
"GCSE results were due to be released this week, but they are now secondary in my thoughts. They seem to pale into insignificance as a result of the gravity of the situation we are faced with."
Samantha McFarland left Omagh High just last year and was currently studying for her A-levels at Strabane College.
She was a keen sportswoman and also did charity work with Riding For The Disabled and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. The James Bulger Appeal was also among the charities she contributed to.
In a thank-you note posted to her former school, Samantha thanked staff for the "enjoyable time" she had spent there.
"I feel I have gained much from Omagh High School and will remember it with pride" the note added.
Her aunt, Rita Ewing recalled her "beautiful young niece" whose life was so tragically cut short.
"Samantha was a wonderful, happy happy girl, a very pretty girl. She loved her parents and brothers dearly. She loved everybody and loved life.
"How anyone can do this is beyond belief she added.
For the past six weeks, Samantha worked voluntarily in Barnardo's shop in town and this week the charity expressed its deepest sympathy to her bereaved family.
"Our deputy shop manager, Patricia D'Arcy has also lost her brother, Brian McCrory.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to both families concerned" added Barnardo's.
Lorraine Wilson was due to begin her final GCSE year in September.
Mr Harper also described her as a model pupil who participated fully within the school.
"Lorraine collected for charity and served with distinction in the school hockey team.
"We have a prize night each year and at the last one, she was up on stage line dancing."
Like hundreds of other GCSE pupils, Alan Radford was due to receive his results this week.
He died instantly in the blast, but his family had to wait an agonising 24 hours before his body was positively identified.
This week, as his brother Paul (29) prepared himself for the funeral, he recalled the "gentle lad" who went shopping with his mother most Saturdays.
"He carried her bags for her. He was such a good lad.
"But Alan slipped away from his mum to do a bit of his own shopping.
"He wandered into Market Street and seconds later the bomb went off he added.
His mother received shrapnel wounds in the explosion but was not seriously hurt.
Following a visit to the Radford family home, Mr Harper said everyone was "living through a nightmare."
"Alan's mother told me she still expects the door to open at any time and Alan to walk in at any moment" he added.
Policeman's daughter, Deborah Cartwright left Omagh High School in 1994.
Mr Harper said "She was a prefect and excelled at cross-community activities with Catholic schools in the town.
"She went to Denmark for two weeks and brought some Danes back to Omagh to live with both Protestant and Catholic families.
"I visited Deborah's family last night and on the wall was a beautiful photograph of Deborah. It brought back to me just how strikingly beautiful she was" he added.
Mr Harper also praised other pupils from the school who were involved in Saturday afternoon's rescue operation, adding that he was proud of all who had offered their services.
"I think the families and people of Omagh both need to grieve personally and as a community. But I really want this to be the last atrocity in Northern Ireland. We have paid a shocking price" he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0023
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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