HEARTBROKEN FIANCE TELLS OF SHATTERED LIFE
Heartbroken fiance tells of shattered life
THE HEARTBROKEN fiance of a Beragh woman killed in Saturday's blast has told how he wished he had been with her.
The life of Kenneth Hawkes, who was engaged to 36 year old Esther Gibson, has been shattered after she was murdered in the atrocity caused by a massive bomb in Omagh town centre.
Kenneth and Esther had been planning their future life together - their wedding date set for July of next year- but life now holds little meaning for the 36 year old.
"When they killed her. I died too. I wish I had been with her. I wish I was with her this minute."
The couple met last March when they were introduced in the Silver Birch Hotel. It was love at first sight.
Just a few months later the couple got engaged on Kenneth's birthday, May 5th, and were to be married on Esther's birthday on July 29th of next year.
"We had an engagement photo taken and we had our rings picked out , and we were waiting for planning permission to build a house beside my family in Mayne.
"Esther was kind, loving, the most generous person I will ever have the privilege to know.
"She just loved children. She couldn't wait to start a family. We wanted a boy and a girl.".
Esther had taught at Sunday School in Sixmilecross and had worked in Desmonds factory in Omagh for fifteen years.
Recalling the news of the bomb Kenneth said "I wasn't with her but I heard the explosion and knew she was in town. I tried to phone, and later I found her car in Dunnes car park and my heart turned over. Her shopping bags were still in the back where she had left them.
He told how he, her father and brother began to search frantically for Esther. They were finally asked to identify her body at 2.30am on Sunday morning.
"I cannot even bear to think about the people who did this. The only person on my mind is my Esther, my lovely Esther, the best thing that ever happened to me and now this. This is the worst."
THE HEARTBROKEN fiance of a Beragh woman killed in Saturday's blast has told how he wished he had been with her.
The life of Kenneth Hawkes, who was engaged to 36 year old Esther Gibson, has been shattered after she was murdered in the atrocity caused by a massive bomb in Omagh town centre.
Kenneth and Esther had been planning their future life together - their wedding date set for July of next year- but life now holds little meaning for the 36 year old.
"When they killed her. I died too. I wish I had been with her. I wish I was with her this minute."
The couple met last March when they were introduced in the Silver Birch Hotel. It was love at first sight.
Just a few months later the couple got engaged on Kenneth's birthday, May 5th, and were to be married on Esther's birthday on July 29th of next year.
"We had an engagement photo taken and we had our rings picked out , and we were waiting for planning permission to build a house beside my family in Mayne.
"Esther was kind, loving, the most generous person I will ever have the privilege to know.
"She just loved children. She couldn't wait to start a family. We wanted a boy and a girl.".
Esther had taught at Sunday School in Sixmilecross and had worked in Desmonds factory in Omagh for fifteen years.
Recalling the news of the bomb Kenneth said "I wasn't with her but I heard the explosion and knew she was in town. I tried to phone, and later I found her car in Dunnes car park and my heart turned over. Her shopping bags were still in the back where she had left them.
He told how he, her father and brother began to search frantically for Esther. They were finally asked to identify her body at 2.30am on Sunday morning.
"I cannot even bear to think about the people who did this. The only person on my mind is my Esther, my lovely Esther, the best thing that ever happened to me and now this. This is the worst."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0024
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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