HONOUR A SAD PRIVILEGE
Honour a sad privilege.
THE RUC OFFICER who took command after the heart of Omagh was savagely ripped out by the terrorist bomb described his MBE as a "sad privilege".
37-year-old Sgt Philip Marshall was the officer who directed emergency services to the horrendous scene and co-ordinated rescue efforts.
The father of three stayed there for over five hours and only left the carnage with the last of the dead. He knew some of the people who died in the bomb and he also knew a lot of the injured whom he attended at the scene.
"This was a very big blow personally to me and the award, which I consider a nice present, will never take away the sadness and memories of that scene"
The brave young officer said he believed it was the hand of God which guided him through the ordeal - an ordeal which tested his leadership skills to the extreme.
Not a day has passed since that he has been totally free of the memories of that dreadful day.
However, as time moves on, the officer is confident that with the support of his wife and children, things can only improve as he looks forward to a better 1999.
"The days are not as troublesome for us now and overall officers are coping reasonably well. They have their good days and bad days" he said.
It took time for the magnitude of the horror to hit home with Sgt Marshall, but he returned to work after just a three week break.
He saw the award as a pat on the back for all the emergency services who did tremendous work in the town. Sgt Marshall also recalled a large number of people who did great work away from the scene and afterwards with the bereaved families.
These were civilians whom he praised for the great work they carried out under such inhumane conditions.
Sgt Marshall joined the RUC as a teenager and throughout his sterling career served mainly in Tyrone. Three years from 1993 to 1996, were also served in Fermanagh. In 1996 he was promoted to Sergeant and made Omagh his home after he married a local girl. The couple have three children aged from 12 to 2.
He admitted being shocked to get the award which he said was a great honour for himself and for his family.
"I knew a lot of those killed in the bomb and who were injured and we are very sensitive to the pain that so many in the town are still suffering" he said.
When he received the official envelope, bearing the Houses of Parliament crest, Sgt Marshall recalled:- "It was a bolt from the blue. To say it was a total shock would be an under-statement".
"This is a real honour for myself and my family. But we will never forget the tragic circumstances behind the honour being awarded" he said.
He went on to describe his MBE as a sad privilege which he would receive on behalf of all the emergency services who had magnificently pulled together as a team and worked tirelessly above the call of duty.
He was the self-appointed team leader on the day of the bomb - being the most senior officer at the scene at the time.
"I told people what to do and they did it. Everyone there tried to do their best and they gave of their best - after the initial madness was over."
"I have no doubt that it was God who was guiding me in the decisions I had to make" said Sgt Marshall.
A statement from the RUC said "It was his calm and confident leadership skills which were tested to the extreme and had undoubtedly saved further loss of life".
It added "Sergeant Marshall displayed an exemplary degree of professionalism and compassion when faced with a narrowing scene of carnage"
THE RUC OFFICER who took command after the heart of Omagh was savagely ripped out by the terrorist bomb described his MBE as a "sad privilege".
37-year-old Sgt Philip Marshall was the officer who directed emergency services to the horrendous scene and co-ordinated rescue efforts.
The father of three stayed there for over five hours and only left the carnage with the last of the dead. He knew some of the people who died in the bomb and he also knew a lot of the injured whom he attended at the scene.
"This was a very big blow personally to me and the award, which I consider a nice present, will never take away the sadness and memories of that scene"
The brave young officer said he believed it was the hand of God which guided him through the ordeal - an ordeal which tested his leadership skills to the extreme.
Not a day has passed since that he has been totally free of the memories of that dreadful day.
However, as time moves on, the officer is confident that with the support of his wife and children, things can only improve as he looks forward to a better 1999.
"The days are not as troublesome for us now and overall officers are coping reasonably well. They have their good days and bad days" he said.
It took time for the magnitude of the horror to hit home with Sgt Marshall, but he returned to work after just a three week break.
He saw the award as a pat on the back for all the emergency services who did tremendous work in the town. Sgt Marshall also recalled a large number of people who did great work away from the scene and afterwards with the bereaved families.
These were civilians whom he praised for the great work they carried out under such inhumane conditions.
Sgt Marshall joined the RUC as a teenager and throughout his sterling career served mainly in Tyrone. Three years from 1993 to 1996, were also served in Fermanagh. In 1996 he was promoted to Sergeant and made Omagh his home after he married a local girl. The couple have three children aged from 12 to 2.
He admitted being shocked to get the award which he said was a great honour for himself and for his family.
"I knew a lot of those killed in the bomb and who were injured and we are very sensitive to the pain that so many in the town are still suffering" he said.
When he received the official envelope, bearing the Houses of Parliament crest, Sgt Marshall recalled:- "It was a bolt from the blue. To say it was a total shock would be an under-statement".
"This is a real honour for myself and my family. But we will never forget the tragic circumstances behind the honour being awarded" he said.
He went on to describe his MBE as a sad privilege which he would receive on behalf of all the emergency services who had magnificently pulled together as a team and worked tirelessly above the call of duty.
He was the self-appointed team leader on the day of the bomb - being the most senior officer at the scene at the time.
"I told people what to do and they did it. Everyone there tried to do their best and they gave of their best - after the initial madness was over."
"I have no doubt that it was God who was guiding me in the decisions I had to make" said Sgt Marshall.
A statement from the RUC said "It was his calm and confident leadership skills which were tested to the extreme and had undoubtedly saved further loss of life".
It added "Sergeant Marshall displayed an exemplary degree of professionalism and compassion when faced with a narrowing scene of carnage"
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0709
Published Date: 07-Jan-99
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