BOMB FAMILIES ANGRY OVER MEMORIAL CEREMONY
Bomb families angry over memorial ceremony
THERE has been an angry reaction from the Omagh Victim Support group that last week's ceremony at the Omagh Community House was portrayed as a memorial to those who died.
With the exception of Donna-Marie and Garry McGillion, none of the families attended the unveiling by Ireland Fund of America chairman Loretta Brennan-Gluckman. The families have always insisted that they wanted a separate memorial and not one incorporated into the Community House.
Kevin Skelton told the UlsterHerald that many people were hurt by the story about the Community House ceremony and the whole portrayal about it being a symbol of hope. He said he did not receive an invitation nor did any of the families to whom he had spoken.
"We feel it has been built on the backs of the death of people we love. They say this is a healing project but where's the evidence for that?"
Michael Gallagher said he did receive an invitation to attend as chairman of the Victims Support group, but refused to be drawn as to why he did not attend.
Echoing Mr Skelton's sentiments. Mr Gallagher said he too was strongly against the memorial being built in the foyer of the Community House. He believed sincerely that the Community House was an excellent project and he congratulated the people behind it for bringing it to fruition. "It fills that void at the bottom of Market Street and it is good that charitable organisations are going have first-class facilities for the very valuable service they provide".
He said the Community House Ltd was a private business and he did not feel the memorial should be in privately owned property. "We take the view that the memorial should be in public ownership".
But he said he told Omagh Council and the Omagh Fund that the families did not want a memorial such as that.
"Because it is a memorial for all there has to be wide consultation amongst the families to come up with someone acceptable to all. It does not matter if that takes years to happen, it should be done where and when the families are happy to go ahead" said Mr Gallagher.
He said that past meeting that have been held there was a strong leaning towards building a memorial and inviting artists to submit ideas.
Mr Gallagher said members from his group will be meeting with the Chief Executive of Omagh Council, Danny McSorley tomorrow evening to discuss the memorial and the Community House.
THERE has been an angry reaction from the Omagh Victim Support group that last week's ceremony at the Omagh Community House was portrayed as a memorial to those who died.
With the exception of Donna-Marie and Garry McGillion, none of the families attended the unveiling by Ireland Fund of America chairman Loretta Brennan-Gluckman. The families have always insisted that they wanted a separate memorial and not one incorporated into the Community House.
Kevin Skelton told the UlsterHerald that many people were hurt by the story about the Community House ceremony and the whole portrayal about it being a symbol of hope. He said he did not receive an invitation nor did any of the families to whom he had spoken.
"We feel it has been built on the backs of the death of people we love. They say this is a healing project but where's the evidence for that?"
Michael Gallagher said he did receive an invitation to attend as chairman of the Victims Support group, but refused to be drawn as to why he did not attend.
Echoing Mr Skelton's sentiments. Mr Gallagher said he too was strongly against the memorial being built in the foyer of the Community House. He believed sincerely that the Community House was an excellent project and he congratulated the people behind it for bringing it to fruition. "It fills that void at the bottom of Market Street and it is good that charitable organisations are going have first-class facilities for the very valuable service they provide".
He said the Community House Ltd was a private business and he did not feel the memorial should be in privately owned property. "We take the view that the memorial should be in public ownership".
But he said he told Omagh Council and the Omagh Fund that the families did not want a memorial such as that.
"Because it is a memorial for all there has to be wide consultation amongst the families to come up with someone acceptable to all. It does not matter if that takes years to happen, it should be done where and when the families are happy to go ahead" said Mr Gallagher.
He said that past meeting that have been held there was a strong leaning towards building a memorial and inviting artists to submit ideas.
Mr Gallagher said members from his group will be meeting with the Chief Executive of Omagh Council, Danny McSorley tomorrow evening to discuss the memorial and the Community House.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1009
Published Date: 02-May-02
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