CHANGED UTTERLY
Changed Utterly
Thirteen days after Omagh was blasted onto the international map and statistically recorded as the worst atrocity of the 'Troubles', the people of Omagh and the surrounding areas are deeply, perhaps permanently, traumatised. Many have experienced feelings of hopelessness, desperation, and despondency.
Though the world has given us its passing condolences, and there have been tremendous gestures of goodwill and love towards the injured and the families of the stricken, the population has not yet been collectively blessed with the grace of which the late Senator Gordon Wilson spoke, when his daughter Marie was killed in the Poppy Day bombing; the grace to help us understand, and to heal our broken hearts.
There is much that must, and can, be done to help those worst affected. The doctors will do what they can, but this is a time when neighbours, friends, and relatives can do much to heal the grief that eludes the physicians' tools. The mother of one of the young people slain spoke of the great love that surrounded her in her grief. That love was reinforced a thousand-fold when our High Street and thoroughfares, our car parks and open spaces, filled with tens of thousands of people, their hearts full, reaching out, wanting to sooth, wanting to bear some of the burden of those who have suffered most.
Saturday's day of reflection was both beautiful and terrible. It was beautiful in its dignity, in its calm, compassionate expression of unity with the bereaved, beautiful because it reminded us that we are a community and that an injury to one is an injury to all, and beautiful in its sorrowful affirmation that we must and will have peace. And terrible because it was reflecting on the mass murder and maiming of children, women and men.
For Omagh, the sun will one day shine again, the aching hearts will ache a little less, and the tortured, frustrated question for those with an empty place at the table, why? may, by the grace of God, be answered. But at present the words of W.B. Yeats to some extent sum up the situation in Omagh - All is changed, changed utterly.
Emergency Services
Just as we have watched multitudes of hearses ferry our neighbours, friends and relatives to their final rest, and have heard of the terrible circumstances in which they have lost their lives, now too are we hearing stories of heroic deeds, of sacrifices, and of dedication beyond the call of duty.
The emergency services carried out a mammoth task in hellish conditions, the personnel and volunteers who rushed to the scene of the bomb to render aid and the staff at Tyrone County Hospital have surpassed expectation and duty. All of them are heroes, and though, for some, no assistance was possible, the town of Omagh and the entire nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to those who selflessly rushed to the scene and to the rescue of others. It will forever be a source of pride amongst us that we have such people in our midst.
The atrocity also underpinned the vital importance of the Tyrone County Hospital, without which there may well have been more deaths. For years, the people of Omagh have urged the government to leave the hospital intact and yet those pleas have gone unheard, unnoticed.
Recriminations will serve no purpose, suffice to say that the County Hospital must be restored to its full capacity. It is the wish of many of the survivors, the families who have been bereaved, and the wider community, that the Tyrone County Hospital should have pride of place. If the government wants to do something meaningful for the people of Omagh, Mr Blair will order the complete restoration of services at the Tyrone County.
Thirteen days after Omagh was blasted onto the international map and statistically recorded as the worst atrocity of the 'Troubles', the people of Omagh and the surrounding areas are deeply, perhaps permanently, traumatised. Many have experienced feelings of hopelessness, desperation, and despondency.
Though the world has given us its passing condolences, and there have been tremendous gestures of goodwill and love towards the injured and the families of the stricken, the population has not yet been collectively blessed with the grace of which the late Senator Gordon Wilson spoke, when his daughter Marie was killed in the Poppy Day bombing; the grace to help us understand, and to heal our broken hearts.
There is much that must, and can, be done to help those worst affected. The doctors will do what they can, but this is a time when neighbours, friends, and relatives can do much to heal the grief that eludes the physicians' tools. The mother of one of the young people slain spoke of the great love that surrounded her in her grief. That love was reinforced a thousand-fold when our High Street and thoroughfares, our car parks and open spaces, filled with tens of thousands of people, their hearts full, reaching out, wanting to sooth, wanting to bear some of the burden of those who have suffered most.
Saturday's day of reflection was both beautiful and terrible. It was beautiful in its dignity, in its calm, compassionate expression of unity with the bereaved, beautiful because it reminded us that we are a community and that an injury to one is an injury to all, and beautiful in its sorrowful affirmation that we must and will have peace. And terrible because it was reflecting on the mass murder and maiming of children, women and men.
For Omagh, the sun will one day shine again, the aching hearts will ache a little less, and the tortured, frustrated question for those with an empty place at the table, why? may, by the grace of God, be answered. But at present the words of W.B. Yeats to some extent sum up the situation in Omagh - All is changed, changed utterly.
Emergency Services
Just as we have watched multitudes of hearses ferry our neighbours, friends and relatives to their final rest, and have heard of the terrible circumstances in which they have lost their lives, now too are we hearing stories of heroic deeds, of sacrifices, and of dedication beyond the call of duty.
The emergency services carried out a mammoth task in hellish conditions, the personnel and volunteers who rushed to the scene of the bomb to render aid and the staff at Tyrone County Hospital have surpassed expectation and duty. All of them are heroes, and though, for some, no assistance was possible, the town of Omagh and the entire nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to those who selflessly rushed to the scene and to the rescue of others. It will forever be a source of pride amongst us that we have such people in our midst.
The atrocity also underpinned the vital importance of the Tyrone County Hospital, without which there may well have been more deaths. For years, the people of Omagh have urged the government to leave the hospital intact and yet those pleas have gone unheard, unnoticed.
Recriminations will serve no purpose, suffice to say that the County Hospital must be restored to its full capacity. It is the wish of many of the survivors, the families who have been bereaved, and the wider community, that the Tyrone County Hospital should have pride of place. If the government wants to do something meaningful for the people of Omagh, Mr Blair will order the complete restoration of services at the Tyrone County.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0158
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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