UH/0652

Fund considers payments to those mentally scarred by atrocity

TRUSTEES and management of the Omagh Fund attended a seminar this week on the nature of trauma - aimed at determining whether to make payments to those mentally scarred in the bomb.
The seminar in the Post Graduate Centre in Omagh was conducted by experts from the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust, who outlined the effect the bomb had on local people and the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Speaking after the seminar on Monday, Brian Oliphant, Fund Manager, said the seminar had been most informative and made them realise the difficult task ahead in-assessing trauma.
He said the Trustees will now have to make a decision on whether to give money to mentally scarred victims or not.
Mr Oliphant went on to say that the ultimate size of the Fund will have a major bearing on what the Trustees do.
The Fund has received to date a total of £1.94 million, and has paid out a total of £615,000 to 237 people, but according to Mr Oliphant, there are still people out there who they cannot reach.
The Fund, which is still expected to top £5m, will not be making any payments in the next few months, but is expecting to make major payouts in June and July, when it is hoped that many of the outstanding monies will have been received.
According to Mr Oliphant these next few months will be crucial.
Many of the staff who work for the Fund are on six months secondment and are due to return to their normal employment.
The Fund has made a total of 349 visits. There are ten arranged which will take place shortly. There are 34 people however, who the Fund has contacted by letter twice, but they still have not responded.
The Trustees would like to hear from these people soon, or they will have to assume they are not interested in receiving financial aid.