SOCCER GAMES RAISE �29,000 FOR FUND
Soccer games raise �29,000 for fund
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE three glamour soccer friendlies played in Omagh in the wake of the Omagh bomb, raised �29,000 for the Omagh Fund.
The local soccer club, Omagh Town is to present a cheque for this amount before the weekend.
The money, however, is a lot less than the �100,000 anticipated when the English soccer giants, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool agreed to play in Omagh.
However, secretary of Omagh Town, Pat McGlinchey reiterated Town's stance on this, claiming that the games were only ever meant to 'boost moral of local people and if money was made, so much the better'.
But the sum raised has been criticised by the Omagh Victims Support group chairman Michael Gallagher who said it is only a fraction of the �200,000 raised through ticket sales alone.
"I am sure the fans and supporters who came out in their thousands to support the people of Omagh during the three games would be disappointed that the amount actually going to the victims fund is so small".
He challenged Omagh Town's comments about 'boosting morale'. "I have it on record that the soccer legends coming to Omagh believed they were raising money for the victims and their families, not just boosting morale" he said.
The controversy caused by the soccer friendlies catapulted Omagh Town into the headlines last year when officials were accused of mishandling the money.
Pat McGlinchey hit back at what he called the 'gutter press reporting' of the incident which he said distorted the aims and outcomes of those truly uplifting events'.
"Unfortunately, even when mud is thrown unfairly, some of it sticks as there are people in our society who prefer to believe such rubbish.
"Omagh Town remained aloof from any tit-for-tat slanging matches in deference to the feelings of those for whom its project was delivered" said Pat.
With regard to the eighteen month delay in handing over the proceeds of the matches, Omagh Town club claimed the delay in producing the final accounts was completely outside its power.
He went on "The sub-committee, set up by Omagh District Council in June 1999, comprised the council's chief finance officer, Omagh Town's general secretary, and an independent accountant.
"Its stated aim was securing 'openness and transparency" in dealing with the myriad of financial transactions arising from the matches arranged by Omagh Town.
"The club handed over everything to the sub-committee to handle, but a lengthy customs and excise audit for VAT only recently ended," said Pat.
The club secretary stated that the final accounts were produced by the independent accountant earlier this year and they had been distributed by the club to the relevant people and to the three English clubs involved, all of whom 'wrote back to say they were happy to have played a part'.
"The Council was also briefed on the draft accounts by the independent accountant and himself".
"The council officials for their part declared that the aims of the council, vis-a-vis openness and transparency, had been met and that the cheque for the final balance could now be transferred.
He also claimed that club officials, while stating their displeasure at the manner in which some matters had been handled, declared their satisfaction that the club's aims in staging the matches had been met.
"Given that some of the financial projections prepared before the matches pointed to a possible loss, the fact that a handsome cheque could be handed over to the fund was an added bonus, which brought pleasure and pride to the Omagh Town club and to those involved" concluded Mr McGlinchey.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE three glamour soccer friendlies played in Omagh in the wake of the Omagh bomb, raised �29,000 for the Omagh Fund.
The local soccer club, Omagh Town is to present a cheque for this amount before the weekend.
The money, however, is a lot less than the �100,000 anticipated when the English soccer giants, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool agreed to play in Omagh.
However, secretary of Omagh Town, Pat McGlinchey reiterated Town's stance on this, claiming that the games were only ever meant to 'boost moral of local people and if money was made, so much the better'.
But the sum raised has been criticised by the Omagh Victims Support group chairman Michael Gallagher who said it is only a fraction of the �200,000 raised through ticket sales alone.
"I am sure the fans and supporters who came out in their thousands to support the people of Omagh during the three games would be disappointed that the amount actually going to the victims fund is so small".
He challenged Omagh Town's comments about 'boosting morale'. "I have it on record that the soccer legends coming to Omagh believed they were raising money for the victims and their families, not just boosting morale" he said.
The controversy caused by the soccer friendlies catapulted Omagh Town into the headlines last year when officials were accused of mishandling the money.
Pat McGlinchey hit back at what he called the 'gutter press reporting' of the incident which he said distorted the aims and outcomes of those truly uplifting events'.
"Unfortunately, even when mud is thrown unfairly, some of it sticks as there are people in our society who prefer to believe such rubbish.
"Omagh Town remained aloof from any tit-for-tat slanging matches in deference to the feelings of those for whom its project was delivered" said Pat.
With regard to the eighteen month delay in handing over the proceeds of the matches, Omagh Town club claimed the delay in producing the final accounts was completely outside its power.
He went on "The sub-committee, set up by Omagh District Council in June 1999, comprised the council's chief finance officer, Omagh Town's general secretary, and an independent accountant.
"Its stated aim was securing 'openness and transparency" in dealing with the myriad of financial transactions arising from the matches arranged by Omagh Town.
"The club handed over everything to the sub-committee to handle, but a lengthy customs and excise audit for VAT only recently ended," said Pat.
The club secretary stated that the final accounts were produced by the independent accountant earlier this year and they had been distributed by the club to the relevant people and to the three English clubs involved, all of whom 'wrote back to say they were happy to have played a part'.
"The Council was also briefed on the draft accounts by the independent accountant and himself".
"The council officials for their part declared that the aims of the council, vis-a-vis openness and transparency, had been met and that the cheque for the final balance could now be transferred.
He also claimed that club officials, while stating their displeasure at the manner in which some matters had been handled, declared their satisfaction that the club's aims in staging the matches had been met.
"Given that some of the financial projections prepared before the matches pointed to a possible loss, the fact that a handsome cheque could be handed over to the fund was an added bonus, which brought pleasure and pride to the Omagh Town club and to those involved" concluded Mr McGlinchey.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0759
Published Date: 26-Apr-01
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