BOMB HOAXERS WERE WAY BEYOND SICK - PRIEST
BOMB HOAXERS WERE 'WAY BEYOND SICK' - PRIEST
Callous caller revives bomb nightmare
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
THERE was shock and incredulity as services in three local churches were disrupted on Sunday when police received a warning that a bomb had been planted in the area of the Court House.
A collective sharp intake of breath was the response in the Sacred Heart Church when Father John Forbes, during 12.15 Mass, announced that police had received a phone call warning of a bomb in the area. A wave of disbelief swept the congregation, however, Father Forbes assured people that there was no need for panic and, acting on the instructions of the police, he advised that cars parked in the High Street should be removed.
A number of people left to remove their vehicles and the Mass continued. At the end of the service police returned with further instructions and Father Forbes invited an officer into the Church who subsequently, advised people that they should go home via Castle Street and James Street as quietly and as quickly as possible.
As the congregation began to leave for home, Father Forbes told them "You are an amazing people."
Speaking afterward, he said he could not find words to describe the hoaxers. He said that many in the congregation were pale faced and with staring eyes as they left the church.
"Although there was no panic, people were anxious and confused. They relived the events of three weeks ago, the fear suddenly came over them. Others were very calm."
Amongst the congregation were members of local families who had lost loved ones in the Carnival Day bomb, and the families of people still in hospital with serious injuries.
"When you look at what happened in Buncrana and those people writing hoax letters to the Omagh families, you come to the conclusion that there is a depravity and a sickness in some people, they thrive on turning the screw. The people who did that on Sunday did it for kicks. This was way beyond sick."
As the people were leaving the church, Father Forbes spoke to the father of a girl still seriously ill in hospital; the gentleman said when he heard the warning, he looked around him and knew he was safe in the house of God.
One man who was near the back of the church said that a woman and a number of young girls burst into tears when they heard of the warning.
The local curate said that some of the police personnel who attended the incident had been involved in events of the 15th of August, and he said that it was a 'massively emotional time for them', so much so, that one police woman was crying.
In the Methodist Church in James Street, Reverend Goode had just finished communion and was about to pronounce the benediction when someone came down the isle and told him of the alert. The congregation prayed together and there was a mood of absolute sadness, the feeling being 'How could this happen'. As the service ended, the congregation ensured that the older people and the children got home safely. For some of those present, it was the first time they had been out since the bomb.
In the Presbyterian Church in John Street, the news of the alert was met with disbelief. The service was nearing an end and members of the congregation were singing hymns when a police officer informed, Reverend Robert Herron of the bomb call. Commenting on people's reaction, Reverend Herron said that there was a certain amount of tension as people became aware that their children were in the Sunday School next to the church. Despite this, people left the church and collected their children in a calm way. Neither was their any panic as the church goers followed police instructions to leave the area via the Throughpass. Some of those attending the service had been injured in the Carnival Day bomb, and Rev Herron expressed anger that they had been put through a further ordeal.
Services in St Columba's Church of Ireland, had ended before the alert and members of the Church had gone home some time before 12.20 p.m.
A police spokesman confirmed that a telephone caller, not using a recognised code word, had phoned the warning in at around 12.20 The caller said that a bomb had been left near the Courthouse.
The alert lasted for just under two and a half hours by which time all of the vehicles in the area had been accounted for. There had been speculation that a car stolen in Belfast had been abandoned in the area, police have said that that was not the case and that a controlled explosion was not carried out.
Superintendent James Baxter, in condemning the hoax bomb call described it as an act of unbearable cruelty towards those involved; "Many people were engaged in quiet prayer and reflection at their places of worship, some of those who were directly affected by the blast on the 15th. They, nor the rest of the good people of Omagh, neither need, nor deserve this."
Callous caller revives bomb nightmare
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
THERE was shock and incredulity as services in three local churches were disrupted on Sunday when police received a warning that a bomb had been planted in the area of the Court House.
A collective sharp intake of breath was the response in the Sacred Heart Church when Father John Forbes, during 12.15 Mass, announced that police had received a phone call warning of a bomb in the area. A wave of disbelief swept the congregation, however, Father Forbes assured people that there was no need for panic and, acting on the instructions of the police, he advised that cars parked in the High Street should be removed.
A number of people left to remove their vehicles and the Mass continued. At the end of the service police returned with further instructions and Father Forbes invited an officer into the Church who subsequently, advised people that they should go home via Castle Street and James Street as quietly and as quickly as possible.
As the congregation began to leave for home, Father Forbes told them "You are an amazing people."
Speaking afterward, he said he could not find words to describe the hoaxers. He said that many in the congregation were pale faced and with staring eyes as they left the church.
"Although there was no panic, people were anxious and confused. They relived the events of three weeks ago, the fear suddenly came over them. Others were very calm."
Amongst the congregation were members of local families who had lost loved ones in the Carnival Day bomb, and the families of people still in hospital with serious injuries.
"When you look at what happened in Buncrana and those people writing hoax letters to the Omagh families, you come to the conclusion that there is a depravity and a sickness in some people, they thrive on turning the screw. The people who did that on Sunday did it for kicks. This was way beyond sick."
As the people were leaving the church, Father Forbes spoke to the father of a girl still seriously ill in hospital; the gentleman said when he heard the warning, he looked around him and knew he was safe in the house of God.
One man who was near the back of the church said that a woman and a number of young girls burst into tears when they heard of the warning.
The local curate said that some of the police personnel who attended the incident had been involved in events of the 15th of August, and he said that it was a 'massively emotional time for them', so much so, that one police woman was crying.
In the Methodist Church in James Street, Reverend Goode had just finished communion and was about to pronounce the benediction when someone came down the isle and told him of the alert. The congregation prayed together and there was a mood of absolute sadness, the feeling being 'How could this happen'. As the service ended, the congregation ensured that the older people and the children got home safely. For some of those present, it was the first time they had been out since the bomb.
In the Presbyterian Church in John Street, the news of the alert was met with disbelief. The service was nearing an end and members of the congregation were singing hymns when a police officer informed, Reverend Robert Herron of the bomb call. Commenting on people's reaction, Reverend Herron said that there was a certain amount of tension as people became aware that their children were in the Sunday School next to the church. Despite this, people left the church and collected their children in a calm way. Neither was their any panic as the church goers followed police instructions to leave the area via the Throughpass. Some of those attending the service had been injured in the Carnival Day bomb, and Rev Herron expressed anger that they had been put through a further ordeal.
Services in St Columba's Church of Ireland, had ended before the alert and members of the Church had gone home some time before 12.20 p.m.
A police spokesman confirmed that a telephone caller, not using a recognised code word, had phoned the warning in at around 12.20 The caller said that a bomb had been left near the Courthouse.
The alert lasted for just under two and a half hours by which time all of the vehicles in the area had been accounted for. There had been speculation that a car stolen in Belfast had been abandoned in the area, police have said that that was not the case and that a controlled explosion was not carried out.
Superintendent James Baxter, in condemning the hoax bomb call described it as an act of unbearable cruelty towards those involved; "Many people were engaged in quiet prayer and reflection at their places of worship, some of those who were directly affected by the blast on the 15th. They, nor the rest of the good people of Omagh, neither need, nor deserve this."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0364
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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