POLICE COULD HAVE DONE NO MORE - SUPT. BAXTER
Police could nave done no more - Supt. Baxter
OMAGH'S Sub-Divisional Commander has moved to reassure his officers that they could not have taken any more action to prevent the Omagh atrocity.
RUC Superintendent James Baxter, personally overcome at the scenes of devastation and carnage at Market Street, told the "Herald" that many of his officers are feeling guilty.
But the most senior ranking officer in Omagh has categorically stated that there is nothing more they could have done.
"The great tragedy of it is that we had police officers moving people out of the area because they believed it to be unsafe and into what was believed to be an area of safety.
"Many of my officers are feeling guilty but they could not have done any more to prevent this tragedy."
He told how many of the officers were asking the question-Could I have done more?
"The answer to that is no." said the Superintendent.
"Those people who planted the bomb in Market Street had an opportunity to give a warning of exactly where the bomb was. Why should anyone want to plant a bomb in a busy market town on the busiest day of the week?
"Those people got out of the vehicle and walked away from the car. They saw the women and children and the men, young and old in that street."
Speaking of the scenes his officers witnessed at first hand after the bomb exploded the RUC Commander said it was expected that police officers become hardened to the violence because of the scenes they witnessed during the troubles.
"That is not the case. No experience or training in the world could ever prepare a young police officer for the carnage and devastation as witnessed, nor should any member of the ambulance or fire service, ever be expected to witness the scenes as witnessed in Omagh town.
"We can only attribute those scenes to those who planted that device in such a callous way."
He praised his men for the tremendous job they had done tending to the injured and the dead "in the most compassionate and dignified way."
He also paid tribute to the public, the emergency services, including the ambulance, fire, hospital and social services.
"Their support and cooperation could not have been better."
"The entire community pulled together at a time of the greatest need and greatest grief and showed every consideration to the bereaved and injured and their families to help them through this traumatic and horrific experience.
Many of the officers on the scene after the bomb exploded have continued to work since, despite their immense shock.
"The officers are mainly concerned with the injured and bereaved. They are coping very well but there is certainly a great sadness among everyone here at Omagh RUC station.
"We would hope to continue to provide support to each other and to those bereaved and injured."
He said many of his officers are receiving support from the force's Occupational Health Unit.
Superintendent Baxter was not in the station when the bomb exploded but he returned to Omagh very quickly and went straight to the scene.
He spoke of his horror when he reached Market Street that Saturday afternoon.
"I was totally appalled at the loss of life, the injury inflicted on people of this area and the absolute grief and concern for all those involved.
"Omagh will have great difficulty getting over this. How can they come to terms with death of 28 people and the horrific injuries inflicted on those who were cut down in the bomb."
But he said people would have to try and come to terms with it.
"It is a tragedy that Omagh is not seeking to forget quickly, nor will they want to."
He told how the daughter of one of his officers had been killed, as well as the sister of another officer.
Asked how he felt the Superintendent said, "Young children were cut down, young teenagers who had their entire lives ahead of them, parents murdered with their children. How can we feel. We cannot find words to explain nor can we adequately explain to the families how saddened we all are at such a terrible atrocity.
One police officer based in Omagh also suffered severe lacerations to his back. Thankfully, said the Superintendent, he is making a good recovery.
Superintendent Baxter has visited many of the homes of the deceased, which he found to be an overwhelming task, and one he had difficulty speaking about.
He has also visited some of the injured.
"I wanted to, as someone struck by this tragedy, to go and talk to them and give them my sympathy in a private capacity".
The RUC barracks at Omagh has been inundated with messages of support from people throughout the community, and beyond.
"I am very pleased that people in the community have written to express their support and appreciation to us. I would ask that that support would continue in the investigation of these murders," he said.
The Sub Divisional Commander in a message to the traders of Omagh said he felt their reopening to customers was done in a very sensitive way.
"I can understand how difficult it was for traders and shop owners to reopen their business on Monday but I feel they did it very sensitively and with the greatest respect to the families of the bereaved and injured."
OMAGH'S Sub-Divisional Commander has moved to reassure his officers that they could not have taken any more action to prevent the Omagh atrocity.
RUC Superintendent James Baxter, personally overcome at the scenes of devastation and carnage at Market Street, told the "Herald" that many of his officers are feeling guilty.
But the most senior ranking officer in Omagh has categorically stated that there is nothing more they could have done.
"The great tragedy of it is that we had police officers moving people out of the area because they believed it to be unsafe and into what was believed to be an area of safety.
"Many of my officers are feeling guilty but they could not have done any more to prevent this tragedy."
He told how many of the officers were asking the question-Could I have done more?
"The answer to that is no." said the Superintendent.
"Those people who planted the bomb in Market Street had an opportunity to give a warning of exactly where the bomb was. Why should anyone want to plant a bomb in a busy market town on the busiest day of the week?
"Those people got out of the vehicle and walked away from the car. They saw the women and children and the men, young and old in that street."
Speaking of the scenes his officers witnessed at first hand after the bomb exploded the RUC Commander said it was expected that police officers become hardened to the violence because of the scenes they witnessed during the troubles.
"That is not the case. No experience or training in the world could ever prepare a young police officer for the carnage and devastation as witnessed, nor should any member of the ambulance or fire service, ever be expected to witness the scenes as witnessed in Omagh town.
"We can only attribute those scenes to those who planted that device in such a callous way."
He praised his men for the tremendous job they had done tending to the injured and the dead "in the most compassionate and dignified way."
He also paid tribute to the public, the emergency services, including the ambulance, fire, hospital and social services.
"Their support and cooperation could not have been better."
"The entire community pulled together at a time of the greatest need and greatest grief and showed every consideration to the bereaved and injured and their families to help them through this traumatic and horrific experience.
Many of the officers on the scene after the bomb exploded have continued to work since, despite their immense shock.
"The officers are mainly concerned with the injured and bereaved. They are coping very well but there is certainly a great sadness among everyone here at Omagh RUC station.
"We would hope to continue to provide support to each other and to those bereaved and injured."
He said many of his officers are receiving support from the force's Occupational Health Unit.
Superintendent Baxter was not in the station when the bomb exploded but he returned to Omagh very quickly and went straight to the scene.
He spoke of his horror when he reached Market Street that Saturday afternoon.
"I was totally appalled at the loss of life, the injury inflicted on people of this area and the absolute grief and concern for all those involved.
"Omagh will have great difficulty getting over this. How can they come to terms with death of 28 people and the horrific injuries inflicted on those who were cut down in the bomb."
But he said people would have to try and come to terms with it.
"It is a tragedy that Omagh is not seeking to forget quickly, nor will they want to."
He told how the daughter of one of his officers had been killed, as well as the sister of another officer.
Asked how he felt the Superintendent said, "Young children were cut down, young teenagers who had their entire lives ahead of them, parents murdered with their children. How can we feel. We cannot find words to explain nor can we adequately explain to the families how saddened we all are at such a terrible atrocity.
One police officer based in Omagh also suffered severe lacerations to his back. Thankfully, said the Superintendent, he is making a good recovery.
Superintendent Baxter has visited many of the homes of the deceased, which he found to be an overwhelming task, and one he had difficulty speaking about.
He has also visited some of the injured.
"I wanted to, as someone struck by this tragedy, to go and talk to them and give them my sympathy in a private capacity".
The RUC barracks at Omagh has been inundated with messages of support from people throughout the community, and beyond.
"I am very pleased that people in the community have written to express their support and appreciation to us. I would ask that that support would continue in the investigation of these murders," he said.
The Sub Divisional Commander in a message to the traders of Omagh said he felt their reopening to customers was done in a very sensitive way.
"I can understand how difficult it was for traders and shop owners to reopen their business on Monday but I feel they did it very sensitively and with the greatest respect to the families of the bereaved and injured."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0176
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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