COURT RULES THAT THOSE OUTSIDE BOMB CIRCLE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR AWARD
Court rules that those outside bomb 'circle' do not qualify for award
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
TERRIBLE details of two nurses' experiences during the Omagh bomb were recounted last week at Omagh County court.
Such was the horror of their story that it drew tears from many of the hardened legal people there.
And whilst it obviously moved Judge Geoffrey Foote, who used words like 'heroic, honourable, brave' about the two male nurses, he still ruled that they were not entitled to a penny compensation.
The hearing by Judge Geoffrey Foote was too determine 'the proximity' to the bomb by people who were claiming compensation.
Several people have been awarded money and last week's hearing was over some questionable cases.
The Compensation Agency would appear to have drawn a ring round the town and anyone who was within that ring when the bomb exploded was entitled to compensation.
In their wisdom the Agency stated that anyone who was not physically present within this ring was not entitled to any money.
It did not matter that the medical people who rushed to the scene following an appeal for help from the Tyrone County Hospital staff, saw in the following 36 hours more horror than they might ever experience in a lifetime.
But they are not entitled to a penny compensation.
Following the bomb, the one 'feelgood' factor, if that was possible, was the pride in the local hospital staff. They had praise levied on them by presidents, prime ministers, royalty, and the victims families.
But since that they have become the forgotten ones.
They have to deal with their trauma and they do so in a pragmatic way. Some have had to have years of counselling to help them deal with the flashbacks to the limbs, the blood, the headless torsos.
There are many who would say that a nurse or doctor is simply doing their job and that many on the day would not dream of claiming for compensation. But the reality is that there are people who have submitted claims for compensation who were nowhere near the bomb, but who saw a chance to make money.
The two nurses involved were not full time members of staff with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, but they rushed from their homes to do what they could to ease the suffering of the injured.
They are both now employed by the Trust, but when the traumatic events of August 15, 1998, began to take its toll, they found they were not entitled to counselling.
When one of them a male nurse with a young family had to take a year off work, he was not paid and he told the court that had it not been for St Vincent de Paul, his house would have been repossessed by the mortgage company.
Both nurses felt a certain guilt for bringing their case to court, but said they were forced to because of the financial losses that they had incurred for something which was outside their control. One told me how he had heard that people who were not near the bomb when it exploded, had submitted claims which had been successful and this made him very angry.
However, despite their frustration at the Judge's ruling, the over riding concern was that none of the details which they had to recount in court about what they saw on that day and the people they helped, would be recounted by the press, for fear of adding more suffering to the victims and their families.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
TERRIBLE details of two nurses' experiences during the Omagh bomb were recounted last week at Omagh County court.
Such was the horror of their story that it drew tears from many of the hardened legal people there.
And whilst it obviously moved Judge Geoffrey Foote, who used words like 'heroic, honourable, brave' about the two male nurses, he still ruled that they were not entitled to a penny compensation.
The hearing by Judge Geoffrey Foote was too determine 'the proximity' to the bomb by people who were claiming compensation.
Several people have been awarded money and last week's hearing was over some questionable cases.
The Compensation Agency would appear to have drawn a ring round the town and anyone who was within that ring when the bomb exploded was entitled to compensation.
In their wisdom the Agency stated that anyone who was not physically present within this ring was not entitled to any money.
It did not matter that the medical people who rushed to the scene following an appeal for help from the Tyrone County Hospital staff, saw in the following 36 hours more horror than they might ever experience in a lifetime.
But they are not entitled to a penny compensation.
Following the bomb, the one 'feelgood' factor, if that was possible, was the pride in the local hospital staff. They had praise levied on them by presidents, prime ministers, royalty, and the victims families.
But since that they have become the forgotten ones.
They have to deal with their trauma and they do so in a pragmatic way. Some have had to have years of counselling to help them deal with the flashbacks to the limbs, the blood, the headless torsos.
There are many who would say that a nurse or doctor is simply doing their job and that many on the day would not dream of claiming for compensation. But the reality is that there are people who have submitted claims for compensation who were nowhere near the bomb, but who saw a chance to make money.
The two nurses involved were not full time members of staff with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, but they rushed from their homes to do what they could to ease the suffering of the injured.
They are both now employed by the Trust, but when the traumatic events of August 15, 1998, began to take its toll, they found they were not entitled to counselling.
When one of them a male nurse with a young family had to take a year off work, he was not paid and he told the court that had it not been for St Vincent de Paul, his house would have been repossessed by the mortgage company.
Both nurses felt a certain guilt for bringing their case to court, but said they were forced to because of the financial losses that they had incurred for something which was outside their control. One told me how he had heard that people who were not near the bomb when it exploded, had submitted claims which had been successful and this made him very angry.
However, despite their frustration at the Judge's ruling, the over riding concern was that none of the details which they had to recount in court about what they saw on that day and the people they helped, would be recounted by the press, for fear of adding more suffering to the victims and their families.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1019
Published Date: 16-May-02
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