FAMILIES ATTEND SPECIAL CEREMONY FOLLOWING ATTACK
Families attend special ceremony following attack
RELATIVIES of those who died in the Omagh bombing attended a poignant service of rededication at the vandalised Garden of Remembrance on Sunday afternoon.
Around 50 relatives attended the short service which was conducted by members of Omagh Churches Forum.
Clergy from four churches in the area jointly conducted the 15-minute ceremony. Present were Rev Derek Quinn (Church of Ireland), Fr Kevin Mullan (Cappagh Parish), Rev Robert Herron (Presbyterian) and Rev Harold Agnew (Methodist). Fr Mullan said he hoped the service would comfort those distressed following the destruction.
He said: "The memorial plot is sacred to all those affected by the tragedy and a place where sad and lonely memories rest.
"I hope this service of blessing will bring solace to the people of the town following the damage which was caused last week."
SAD TIME
Presbyterian minister Rev Robert Herron praised the families who had supported one another through what, he felt, had been yet another particularly difficult and sad time.
"The garden of remembrance is a special place set aside in memory of those who died," he said. "That memory can be a source of help to those affected, so it is important for the town that it is restored and rededicated as soon as possible."
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann died in the blast, said the ceremony had helped relatives cope with the damage caused to the memorial plot.
He said: "Within the past few days we have had many words of encouragement and comfort from people. We are grateful to the members of the Churches Forum for organising this service.
"This is a sacred place to those who lost loved ones and it is heartening to have the garden restored to its former glory."
RELATIVIES of those who died in the Omagh bombing attended a poignant service of rededication at the vandalised Garden of Remembrance on Sunday afternoon.
Around 50 relatives attended the short service which was conducted by members of Omagh Churches Forum.
Clergy from four churches in the area jointly conducted the 15-minute ceremony. Present were Rev Derek Quinn (Church of Ireland), Fr Kevin Mullan (Cappagh Parish), Rev Robert Herron (Presbyterian) and Rev Harold Agnew (Methodist). Fr Mullan said he hoped the service would comfort those distressed following the destruction.
He said: "The memorial plot is sacred to all those affected by the tragedy and a place where sad and lonely memories rest.
"I hope this service of blessing will bring solace to the people of the town following the damage which was caused last week."
SAD TIME
Presbyterian minister Rev Robert Herron praised the families who had supported one another through what, he felt, had been yet another particularly difficult and sad time.
"The garden of remembrance is a special place set aside in memory of those who died," he said. "That memory can be a source of help to those affected, so it is important for the town that it is restored and rededicated as soon as possible."
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann died in the blast, said the ceremony had helped relatives cope with the damage caused to the memorial plot.
He said: "Within the past few days we have had many words of encouragement and comfort from people. We are grateful to the members of the Churches Forum for organising this service.
"This is a sacred place to those who lost loved ones and it is heartening to have the garden restored to its former glory."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0763
Published Date: 03-May-01
Related Images
