FAMILIES WISH TO GRIEVE PRIVATELY
Families wish to grieve privately
RECENT press coverage has once again revisited the horror which was brought to this community by the Omagh Bomb. The third anniversary of the bomb like the previous anniversaries focused attention on the magnitude of everyone's loss resulting from the bomb and the fact that the ongoing RUC and Gardai investigation would appear to have been unsuccessful in apprehending those responsible for the commission of this most heinous crime.
We, the Monaghan and Grimes families, have suffered significantly as a result of the bomb. Everyone will be aware of this. We do not feel the need at this time to recite and rehearse the extent of our loss or grief. However, as we have previously sought to make clear, our two families have never at any time belonged to any grouping which purports to represent the "Omagh Families", the Victims of Omagh, any Self Help Group or otherwise. Any spokesperson or collection of spokespersons who purport to speak on behalf of "all the Omagh families" or otherwise does so unilaterally and without any authority. We are unaware of what support, if any, these spokespersons maintain. However, and for the avoidance of doubt, we wish your readers to be aware that any or all of these groupings do not speak on behalf of the Grimes and Monaghan families. As recently as the 12th August 2001 the Sunday Times published an article and accompanying photograph in the context of commentary upon a Civil Action which is currently being prosecuted and apparently relates to the bomb in Omagh. Photographs depicted scenes from the funerals of our family members. The photographs were published without our consent, permission authority or notice. It was very distressing to us. However, it was just juxtaposed to an article which would give readers the impression that the Grimes and Monaghan families explicitly or implicitly supported the Civil Action. We wish to make it abundantly clear that neither the Grimes of Monaghan families maintains any act or part in the ongoing Civil Action. We recognise the right of others who may wish to support this Civil Action but refute their claim that they speak for all. We feel it appropriate in the circumstances however to reiterate our thanks to the many friends, neighbours and the larger extended community who have sympathised with our families and supported us over the past three years. We now simply wish to be able to live our lives in peace and grieve privately for our dead relatives.
M Grimes
RECENT press coverage has once again revisited the horror which was brought to this community by the Omagh Bomb. The third anniversary of the bomb like the previous anniversaries focused attention on the magnitude of everyone's loss resulting from the bomb and the fact that the ongoing RUC and Gardai investigation would appear to have been unsuccessful in apprehending those responsible for the commission of this most heinous crime.
We, the Monaghan and Grimes families, have suffered significantly as a result of the bomb. Everyone will be aware of this. We do not feel the need at this time to recite and rehearse the extent of our loss or grief. However, as we have previously sought to make clear, our two families have never at any time belonged to any grouping which purports to represent the "Omagh Families", the Victims of Omagh, any Self Help Group or otherwise. Any spokesperson or collection of spokespersons who purport to speak on behalf of "all the Omagh families" or otherwise does so unilaterally and without any authority. We are unaware of what support, if any, these spokespersons maintain. However, and for the avoidance of doubt, we wish your readers to be aware that any or all of these groupings do not speak on behalf of the Grimes and Monaghan families. As recently as the 12th August 2001 the Sunday Times published an article and accompanying photograph in the context of commentary upon a Civil Action which is currently being prosecuted and apparently relates to the bomb in Omagh. Photographs depicted scenes from the funerals of our family members. The photographs were published without our consent, permission authority or notice. It was very distressing to us. However, it was just juxtaposed to an article which would give readers the impression that the Grimes and Monaghan families explicitly or implicitly supported the Civil Action. We wish to make it abundantly clear that neither the Grimes of Monaghan families maintains any act or part in the ongoing Civil Action. We recognise the right of others who may wish to support this Civil Action but refute their claim that they speak for all. We feel it appropriate in the circumstances however to reiterate our thanks to the many friends, neighbours and the larger extended community who have sympathised with our families and supported us over the past three years. We now simply wish to be able to live our lives in peace and grieve privately for our dead relatives.
M Grimes
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0843
Published Date: 13-Sep-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.