OMAGH PREPARES TO MARK THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF BOMB
Omagh prepares to mark third anniversary of bomb
BY JOHN McCUSKER
Memorial will acknowledge the atrocity and ongoing pain it has caused - Fr Mullan
THE third anniversary of the Omagh bombing atrocity will be marked at an inter-denominational service at the Garden of Remembrance at lunchtime next Wednesday.
The ceremony - which has been organised by Omagh Churches Forum will include the laying of a wreath on behalf of the people of the town in memory of the 29 men, women and children and unborn twins who died following the attack on August 15 1998.
Drumragh Avenue will be closed to traffic shortly before the 1pm service. Prayers will be led by Drumragh parish priest, Fr Michael Keaveny and Rev William Seale of St Columba's Church of Ireland.
During the ceremony two young people representing the bereaved and injured will participate in the readings. And a tree donated by victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings group "Justice for the Forgotten" will also be planted at the memorial garden.
Outlining plans for this year's ceremony, Fr Kevin Mullan explained that it was the intention to publicly mark the anniversary up until the fifth year after the atrocity. Thereafter, organised ceremonies will take place only on set occasions such as the tenth or twentieth anniversaries.
Fr Mullan said: "This year's memorial service will acknowledge the atrocity and the ongoing pain which it has caused to those affected.
"We plan to officially mark the attack up until the fifth anniversary. After that date, however, the public ceremonies will be gradually scaled down allowing families to mark their grief privately."
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast said three years after the tragedy the grief was still etched on the lives of those who had lost loved ones.
Although Omagh had rarely been out of the news, many of those affected were still only coming to terms with their loss, he commented.
"In a tragedy like Omagh which has had a lot of media attention over the years, the full impact of the horror takes a lot longer to affect people's lives. For some it is only now that they are coming to realise the enormity of their loss.
"Omagh should never be forgotten. It is a permanent reminder of what can happen when people reach the depths to which those who carried out the attack stooped to," Mr Gallagher added.
Meanwhile, several of the families who lost relatives in the bombing have until next week to serve writs in their bid to mount a civil action against those they believe carried out the attack.
Legislation dictates that the writs must be served by August 14, the day before the third anniversary of the bombing.
The Omagh Families for Justice group have recently opened a bank account in the town, as part of their efforts to raise �1 million in order to take the action. So far, the group have donations totalling just over a quarter of the required amount. And those behind the move are currently planning to open a similar account in the United States.
The unprecedented civil action is being closely observed by victims' groups worldwide.
Mr Gallagher explained that when families realised the bombers may never face criminal charges they began to explore other avenues to bring those they believe responsible before a court.
He added that relatives would also be pressing for a change in the legislation which presently imposed a three year limit on the instigation of civic actions.
Donations to the Families for Justice appeal can be made at the Bank of Ireland, Campsie, Omagh, sort code 90-50-02, account number 30790971. Donations can also be made through the Omagh Victims' Legal Action Trust or at any branch of the Bank of Ireland.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
Memorial will acknowledge the atrocity and ongoing pain it has caused - Fr Mullan
THE third anniversary of the Omagh bombing atrocity will be marked at an inter-denominational service at the Garden of Remembrance at lunchtime next Wednesday.
The ceremony - which has been organised by Omagh Churches Forum will include the laying of a wreath on behalf of the people of the town in memory of the 29 men, women and children and unborn twins who died following the attack on August 15 1998.
Drumragh Avenue will be closed to traffic shortly before the 1pm service. Prayers will be led by Drumragh parish priest, Fr Michael Keaveny and Rev William Seale of St Columba's Church of Ireland.
During the ceremony two young people representing the bereaved and injured will participate in the readings. And a tree donated by victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings group "Justice for the Forgotten" will also be planted at the memorial garden.
Outlining plans for this year's ceremony, Fr Kevin Mullan explained that it was the intention to publicly mark the anniversary up until the fifth year after the atrocity. Thereafter, organised ceremonies will take place only on set occasions such as the tenth or twentieth anniversaries.
Fr Mullan said: "This year's memorial service will acknowledge the atrocity and the ongoing pain which it has caused to those affected.
"We plan to officially mark the attack up until the fifth anniversary. After that date, however, the public ceremonies will be gradually scaled down allowing families to mark their grief privately."
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast said three years after the tragedy the grief was still etched on the lives of those who had lost loved ones.
Although Omagh had rarely been out of the news, many of those affected were still only coming to terms with their loss, he commented.
"In a tragedy like Omagh which has had a lot of media attention over the years, the full impact of the horror takes a lot longer to affect people's lives. For some it is only now that they are coming to realise the enormity of their loss.
"Omagh should never be forgotten. It is a permanent reminder of what can happen when people reach the depths to which those who carried out the attack stooped to," Mr Gallagher added.
Meanwhile, several of the families who lost relatives in the bombing have until next week to serve writs in their bid to mount a civil action against those they believe carried out the attack.
Legislation dictates that the writs must be served by August 14, the day before the third anniversary of the bombing.
The Omagh Families for Justice group have recently opened a bank account in the town, as part of their efforts to raise �1 million in order to take the action. So far, the group have donations totalling just over a quarter of the required amount. And those behind the move are currently planning to open a similar account in the United States.
The unprecedented civil action is being closely observed by victims' groups worldwide.
Mr Gallagher explained that when families realised the bombers may never face criminal charges they began to explore other avenues to bring those they believe responsible before a court.
He added that relatives would also be pressing for a change in the legislation which presently imposed a three year limit on the instigation of civic actions.
Donations to the Families for Justice appeal can be made at the Bank of Ireland, Campsie, Omagh, sort code 90-50-02, account number 30790971. Donations can also be made through the Omagh Victims' Legal Action Trust or at any branch of the Bank of Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0793
Published Date: 09-Aug-01
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