IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE TO SHOW THEY STILL CARE
It is important for the people to show they still care'
THE VOICE ON THE STREET: On the eve of the first anniversary of the bombing, Herald reporter Jacqueline Courtney sought the views of members of the public on how they intended marking the poignant anniversary of August 15th massacre.
19-year-old Caroline O'Connor from Augher said she found the screening last Sunday night of the UTV documentary Omagh - A Year On quite disturbing and left her with an overwhelmed feeling of sadness.
"It brought back a lot of bad memories and I cried a bit as I watched it. I woke up a couple of times during the night," said Caroline who knew many of those who had died or were injured in the bomb.
She was in the town the day of the travesty, working in the Carlton Restaurant. She vowed to return to the town on Sunday to remember those caught up in the blast.
"I am alright at the moment. I get counselling every Wednesday which is a help. I have some good and some bad days."
"I need to come back to Omagh on Sunday in memory of those who died or were injured," she said.
72-year-old Leo Turbett, watched only part of Omagh - A Year On and he was not sorry!.
"It was the most mournful and depressing documentary I have watched. We are made relive the horrors of the Omagh bomb over and over again. The people who produce these programmes are bringing back too many sad memories. I think they should ease off and let the Omagh people get on with life as best they can in their own private way."
Sisters, Louise (17) and Michelle Mullan (16), from Carrickmore also felt a deep sense of loyalty to the town. They said they would be back on Sunday, if possible, to remember those families who had lost loved ones or had relatives injured.
Both thought Sunday's TV documentary was good but it had brought back a lot of sad memories of that horrendous day.
Said Louise "I think the people should be allowed to get on with their lives but it is important to talk about your experiences and to get your anger out. Some of those interviewed did exactly that and for them it would have been good."
Her younger sister Michelle was in Donegal at the time of the bomb.
"Had I been home I would have been in Omagh on that day from around 2.30-3.45 and I dread to think of what might have happened. Every Saturday I would have been in Omagh with my friends around the time of the bomb. I rang home when I heard about the explosion but I did not know then it was so serious. It was only when I saw the pictures on television that I realised the seriousness of it. I just could not believe what I was watching.
Louise was at home awaiting her GCSE results when the bomb exploded.
Both sisters felt this Sunday was an opportunity for them to show the Omagh people "We Care."
33-year-old Chris Bradley, found the documentary "very interesting" but found the scenes of the bomb site a shocking reminder of what had happened.
"It brought back a lot of heartbreaking memories and scenes which I saw for myself that day. "
Chris, an Omagh District Council employee, was on duty in the town on August 15th. This year again he will be working as a steward at the council's car parks.
"After the bomb went off I helped several people search for missing family members and it was a scene too horrible to describe. The scene I
saw that day and the screams I heard, I just want to forget" said Chris.
He said it was important for people to show they still care about the families of the bereaved and the injured.
"I will be there to show my support to those people."
76-year-old Pat Vaughan, a former Omagh postman, also tuned into the Omagh documentary on Sunday night and found it really sad.
"I just thought off the people who were involved in the bomb. I thought of them all as I watched.
"It brought back too many sad memories for me and I think it is about time we were allowed to move on" he said.
Because of his loyalty, he intends staying in town on Sunday and remembering those who died or were injured.
Ruby Smith, from Castlederg was in town with her three children to buy school uniforms - ironically like so many families innocently caught up in last year's atrocity.
She was in town on Monday with Victoria, (13), Rachel (11) and James (7). Last year the family were fortunately in Rossnowlagh on August 15th This weekend the family also plan to be in Rossnowlagh.
She attended one of the services in Rossnowlagh in the aftermath of the bomb.
"The programme brought it all back to me again and it was hard too watch," she said.
She recalled the many hoax bomb calls made to the town after the bomb. Ruby and one of her daughters were caught up in one of the hoaxes and for her young daughter it was a "terrible experience".
Separated for a while, she eventually found her daughter running down Bridge Street in a panic and crying.
"She was really so scared and I kept thinking Oh God what if this is another bomb" said Ruby.
Local businessman, Michael McCrory, also relived a lot of his memories whilst watching the much publicised documentary.
"It was a terrible day and to see it all over again was disturbing," he said.
28-year-old Cathal McAlary, from Omagh will also be working on Sunday.
He intends to grieve for the deceased and injured in his own private way.
THE VOICE ON THE STREET: On the eve of the first anniversary of the bombing, Herald reporter Jacqueline Courtney sought the views of members of the public on how they intended marking the poignant anniversary of August 15th massacre.
19-year-old Caroline O'Connor from Augher said she found the screening last Sunday night of the UTV documentary Omagh - A Year On quite disturbing and left her with an overwhelmed feeling of sadness.
"It brought back a lot of bad memories and I cried a bit as I watched it. I woke up a couple of times during the night," said Caroline who knew many of those who had died or were injured in the bomb.
She was in the town the day of the travesty, working in the Carlton Restaurant. She vowed to return to the town on Sunday to remember those caught up in the blast.
"I am alright at the moment. I get counselling every Wednesday which is a help. I have some good and some bad days."
"I need to come back to Omagh on Sunday in memory of those who died or were injured," she said.
72-year-old Leo Turbett, watched only part of Omagh - A Year On and he was not sorry!.
"It was the most mournful and depressing documentary I have watched. We are made relive the horrors of the Omagh bomb over and over again. The people who produce these programmes are bringing back too many sad memories. I think they should ease off and let the Omagh people get on with life as best they can in their own private way."
Sisters, Louise (17) and Michelle Mullan (16), from Carrickmore also felt a deep sense of loyalty to the town. They said they would be back on Sunday, if possible, to remember those families who had lost loved ones or had relatives injured.
Both thought Sunday's TV documentary was good but it had brought back a lot of sad memories of that horrendous day.
Said Louise "I think the people should be allowed to get on with their lives but it is important to talk about your experiences and to get your anger out. Some of those interviewed did exactly that and for them it would have been good."
Her younger sister Michelle was in Donegal at the time of the bomb.
"Had I been home I would have been in Omagh on that day from around 2.30-3.45 and I dread to think of what might have happened. Every Saturday I would have been in Omagh with my friends around the time of the bomb. I rang home when I heard about the explosion but I did not know then it was so serious. It was only when I saw the pictures on television that I realised the seriousness of it. I just could not believe what I was watching.
Louise was at home awaiting her GCSE results when the bomb exploded.
Both sisters felt this Sunday was an opportunity for them to show the Omagh people "We Care."
33-year-old Chris Bradley, found the documentary "very interesting" but found the scenes of the bomb site a shocking reminder of what had happened.
"It brought back a lot of heartbreaking memories and scenes which I saw for myself that day. "
Chris, an Omagh District Council employee, was on duty in the town on August 15th. This year again he will be working as a steward at the council's car parks.
"After the bomb went off I helped several people search for missing family members and it was a scene too horrible to describe. The scene I
saw that day and the screams I heard, I just want to forget" said Chris.
He said it was important for people to show they still care about the families of the bereaved and the injured.
"I will be there to show my support to those people."
76-year-old Pat Vaughan, a former Omagh postman, also tuned into the Omagh documentary on Sunday night and found it really sad.
"I just thought off the people who were involved in the bomb. I thought of them all as I watched.
"It brought back too many sad memories for me and I think it is about time we were allowed to move on" he said.
Because of his loyalty, he intends staying in town on Sunday and remembering those who died or were injured.
Ruby Smith, from Castlederg was in town with her three children to buy school uniforms - ironically like so many families innocently caught up in last year's atrocity.
She was in town on Monday with Victoria, (13), Rachel (11) and James (7). Last year the family were fortunately in Rossnowlagh on August 15th This weekend the family also plan to be in Rossnowlagh.
She attended one of the services in Rossnowlagh in the aftermath of the bomb.
"The programme brought it all back to me again and it was hard too watch," she said.
She recalled the many hoax bomb calls made to the town after the bomb. Ruby and one of her daughters were caught up in one of the hoaxes and for her young daughter it was a "terrible experience".
Separated for a while, she eventually found her daughter running down Bridge Street in a panic and crying.
"She was really so scared and I kept thinking Oh God what if this is another bomb" said Ruby.
Local businessman, Michael McCrory, also relived a lot of his memories whilst watching the much publicised documentary.
"It was a terrible day and to see it all over again was disturbing," he said.
28-year-old Cathal McAlary, from Omagh will also be working on Sunday.
He intends to grieve for the deceased and injured in his own private way.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0481
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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