COUNCIL MEETING ADJOURNED AS MARK OF RESPECT
Council meeting adjourned as mark of respect
Cllrs extend sympathy to families of the bereaved and injured
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
AS a mark of respect to those who perished in the carnival day bomb, Omagh District Council adjourned its first monthly meeting since the atrocity.
However, before the meeting broke up, Councillors took the opportunity to extend their personal and party sympathies to the bereaved and the injured.
Councillor Liam McQuaid, on behalf of the SDLP, commented; "I don't think any of us expected anything like this to happen in Omagh. It is something that will take some time to get over. I have been coming into Omagh for over forty years and it is something I would never have expected.
"Many of the people injured will have to live with terrible scars for the rest of their lives. We wish them a speedy recovery and congratulate everyone involved in helping during the emergency."
He said that there was a lot to be done in the days ahead to help those suffering and the families of the bereaved. "They have to be kept uppermost in our minds."
Vice-Chairman of the Council, Allan Rainey, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, sent condolences to two Council colleagues whose families had been bereaved, Crawford McFarland and Oliver Gibson. He expressed the hope that their families would take the strength to go on from their faith. He went on to extend condolences to all of those families who had suffered and hoped for a speedy and full recovery for the many injured.
He expressed his particular thanks to the emergency services and volunteers who gave freely of their time to respond to the emergency, and he recorded a debt of gratitude to all of the local clergy who did so much to comfort the bereaved and injured.
Concluding, he said that all of the Council's efforts should be channelled into helping the public.
Community Independent, Paddy McGowan, extended his sympathies to the families of the two bereaved Councillors, and the families of all of those who had lost loved ones. He said that the atrocity drew the most extraordinary response from ordinary people. He too expressed his gratitude to the emergency services.
Alliance Councillor, Anne Gormley echoed the sentiments of the previous speakers. She remarked that families who had lost loved ones had responded with such dignity throughout their terrible experiences. Concluding she said that the Council, through its leadership, would get the spirit back into Omagh.
Labour's Johnny McLaughlin, joined with Council colleagues in extending his condolences to all of the families of the dead and injured. He said that the people of Omagh had the courage to rise again.
The DUP bloc also shared many of the sentiments expressed above and, its leader, Oliver Gibson, thanked fellow Councillors for their messages of sympathy, which he said, were accepted in the spirit in which they were offered.
Having praised the emergency services, Cllr Gibson said that Councillors should work together in the future to ensure that the Tyrone County Hospital became the 'Seventh Golden Hospital'. Additionally, he praised the courage of the people who rushed to the scene to render assistance.
Concluding, he said "There should never have been a bomb in Omagh. That was an atrocity we did not deserve."
Councillor McAnespie, echoing the earlier words of sympathy, said it was frightful to see so many people of all ages, religions, and political views asking "Where's my mother, son, or brother." He said that people who had never seen so much as a cut finger their lives, acted swiftly assist the injured, and helped to save lives.
Ulster Unionist Crawford McFarland thanked Council colleagues for their kind words. He said that this was not the first time his family had been bereaved but that the very many letters and messages of sympathy showed the there were very many good and kind people. He also asked to be associated with earlier remarks.
All of the members paid tribute to the Chief Executive, John McKinney and his staff, who, it was acknowledged, worked tirelessly to help people during the emergency, a responded to the crisis in a positive and effective manner.
Cllrs extend sympathy to families of the bereaved and injured
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
AS a mark of respect to those who perished in the carnival day bomb, Omagh District Council adjourned its first monthly meeting since the atrocity.
However, before the meeting broke up, Councillors took the opportunity to extend their personal and party sympathies to the bereaved and the injured.
Councillor Liam McQuaid, on behalf of the SDLP, commented; "I don't think any of us expected anything like this to happen in Omagh. It is something that will take some time to get over. I have been coming into Omagh for over forty years and it is something I would never have expected.
"Many of the people injured will have to live with terrible scars for the rest of their lives. We wish them a speedy recovery and congratulate everyone involved in helping during the emergency."
He said that there was a lot to be done in the days ahead to help those suffering and the families of the bereaved. "They have to be kept uppermost in our minds."
Vice-Chairman of the Council, Allan Rainey, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, sent condolences to two Council colleagues whose families had been bereaved, Crawford McFarland and Oliver Gibson. He expressed the hope that their families would take the strength to go on from their faith. He went on to extend condolences to all of those families who had suffered and hoped for a speedy and full recovery for the many injured.
He expressed his particular thanks to the emergency services and volunteers who gave freely of their time to respond to the emergency, and he recorded a debt of gratitude to all of the local clergy who did so much to comfort the bereaved and injured.
Concluding, he said that all of the Council's efforts should be channelled into helping the public.
Community Independent, Paddy McGowan, extended his sympathies to the families of the two bereaved Councillors, and the families of all of those who had lost loved ones. He said that the atrocity drew the most extraordinary response from ordinary people. He too expressed his gratitude to the emergency services.
Alliance Councillor, Anne Gormley echoed the sentiments of the previous speakers. She remarked that families who had lost loved ones had responded with such dignity throughout their terrible experiences. Concluding she said that the Council, through its leadership, would get the spirit back into Omagh.
Labour's Johnny McLaughlin, joined with Council colleagues in extending his condolences to all of the families of the dead and injured. He said that the people of Omagh had the courage to rise again.
The DUP bloc also shared many of the sentiments expressed above and, its leader, Oliver Gibson, thanked fellow Councillors for their messages of sympathy, which he said, were accepted in the spirit in which they were offered.
Having praised the emergency services, Cllr Gibson said that Councillors should work together in the future to ensure that the Tyrone County Hospital became the 'Seventh Golden Hospital'. Additionally, he praised the courage of the people who rushed to the scene to render assistance.
Concluding, he said "There should never have been a bomb in Omagh. That was an atrocity we did not deserve."
Councillor McAnespie, echoing the earlier words of sympathy, said it was frightful to see so many people of all ages, religions, and political views asking "Where's my mother, son, or brother." He said that people who had never seen so much as a cut finger their lives, acted swiftly assist the injured, and helped to save lives.
Ulster Unionist Crawford McFarland thanked Council colleagues for their kind words. He said that this was not the first time his family had been bereaved but that the very many letters and messages of sympathy showed the there were very many good and kind people. He also asked to be associated with earlier remarks.
All of the members paid tribute to the Chief Executive, John McKinney and his staff, who, it was acknowledged, worked tirelessly to help people during the emergency, a responded to the crisis in a positive and effective manner.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0278
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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