OMAGH COUNCIL OPENS BOOK OF CONDOLENCES
Omagh Council opens Book of Condolences
OMAGH District Council has opened a book of condolences following the mass murder of thousands of American civilians by an, as yet, unidentified terror group in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
Chairman Barry McElduff and a number of other local Councillors were among to sign the book opened in the Council offices on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the public will be given their opportunity to sign the book when it is relocated to the Tourist Information Centre in Market Street later this week.
The Council suspended a planned District Services meeting on Tuesday in the light of unfolding events in the USA.
Acting Chairman of the committee meeting Barry McElduff said that the meeting was adjourned in order to reflect on the widespread disbelief and shock throughout the local community.
Mr McElduff said that, "There are an awful lot of Tyrone people and the Irish diaspora in the USA at the present time. We are all praying for them and thinking about their welfare. We send or condolences to the families of those who have died."
He said that in addition to opening a book of condolences the Council would be sending a letter to the US Ambassador in Dublin and to the American President to express sympathy.
Councillors recalled the support that they had had from the people of the US following the bombing of Omagh in August 15th 1998.
Several delegations had been due to address the Council however, they understood that in the circumstances it was appropriate to suspend the meeting.
He concluded, The Council and people from the District are coming to terms with the scale and enormity of this. None of our minds could have been focused on the agenda. Speaking after the meeting Councillor Johnny McLaughlin said that such attacks could only be classified as a violation of democracy.
"It was a comfort to our town when the American President at the time, Mr Clinton came to visit and offer his condolences to those affected by another disastrous deed."
OMAGH District Council has opened a book of condolences following the mass murder of thousands of American civilians by an, as yet, unidentified terror group in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
Chairman Barry McElduff and a number of other local Councillors were among to sign the book opened in the Council offices on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the public will be given their opportunity to sign the book when it is relocated to the Tourist Information Centre in Market Street later this week.
The Council suspended a planned District Services meeting on Tuesday in the light of unfolding events in the USA.
Acting Chairman of the committee meeting Barry McElduff said that the meeting was adjourned in order to reflect on the widespread disbelief and shock throughout the local community.
Mr McElduff said that, "There are an awful lot of Tyrone people and the Irish diaspora in the USA at the present time. We are all praying for them and thinking about their welfare. We send or condolences to the families of those who have died."
He said that in addition to opening a book of condolences the Council would be sending a letter to the US Ambassador in Dublin and to the American President to express sympathy.
Councillors recalled the support that they had had from the people of the US following the bombing of Omagh in August 15th 1998.
Several delegations had been due to address the Council however, they understood that in the circumstances it was appropriate to suspend the meeting.
He concluded, The Council and people from the District are coming to terms with the scale and enormity of this. None of our minds could have been focused on the agenda. Speaking after the meeting Councillor Johnny McLaughlin said that such attacks could only be classified as a violation of democracy.
"It was a comfort to our town when the American President at the time, Mr Clinton came to visit and offer his condolences to those affected by another disastrous deed."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0841
Published Date: 13-Sep-01
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