UNITED IN GRIEF
United in grief
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
RELATIVES of the 31 people killed in the Omagh bomb were joined by hundreds of others at a special service to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the atrocity last Thursday afternoon.
People from all sections of the community came together for the moving lunchtime ecumenical service which was held in the Garden of Remembrance at Drumragh Avenue close to the scene of the bomb.
Shops and businesses in the town closed for the duration of the ceremony which began with a minute's silence in memory of those who lost their lives and those who were injured as a result of the August 15, 1998, attack. Victims of last year's September 11th attacks in the US were also remembered.
Those who came to pay their respects included local nationalist and unionist politicians and NIO Minister Des Browne.
Families of the two Spanish victims, Rocio Abad Ramos and Fernando Blasco Baselga, were also present, along with representatives from Buncrana where young victims, Orin Doherty, James Barker and Sean McLaughlin came from.
The ceremony was organised by Omagh District Council, Sperrin Lakeland Trust and Omagh Churches Forum.
Following the one minute's silence, the names of each of the 31 victims were called out prompting one onlooker to comment: "Hearing those names just brings the horror of that day all back home."
The service then began with a few words from Danny McSorley, Chief Executive with Omagh District Council, who welcomed those in attendance and those who travelled a distance to "show solidarity with the people of Omagh".
Mr McSorley said: "Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Today we come together in word, in music, and in prayer, to remember those who died and were injured as a result of the attack on our town on that fateful Saturday afternoon four years ago."
The service was conducted by local religious leaders from several denominations who pledged that "Our love for the dead and injured of August 1998 will not come to an end."
The poignant occasion was also marked by a number of beautiful songs performed by Jonathon Mehaffey, Eleanor O'Neill, Margaret Mitchell, Barney McAleer and Andrea McDaid from Buncrana who was a neighbour of Orin Doherty and Sean McLaughlin.
There were readings from Mandy Walker, who lost her mother Olive Hawkes in the bomb, Kathleen McNamee and Sylvia Donaldson who read a poem in Spanish.
Sister Aenges of Hazel Wand Theatre Group devised a special ceremony involving the carrying of a wreath by Bronagh Donnelly, Blanad Kerr and Laura McAllister.
The ceremony concluded with the official laying of wreaths and floral tributes in the Memorial Garden. Danny McSorley laid the first wreath on behalf of the people of Omagh followed by floral tributes from loved ones of the deceased.
Fr Kevin Mullan, who helped organise this year's event, felt the service had a tremendous calming effect on the families and everyone present.
He said: "I think the service brought all of the feelings of grief together for a half hour of calmness and it is a blessing that so many people could gather together and pool all of their thoughts into one feeling of remembrance.
"The community is still very fragmented between remembering those who lost their lives and the struggle for justice but everybody is working at their own path and hopefully all of the paths will eventually be for the good of everybody".
Afterwards, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan lost his life in the Real IRA attack, expressed his thanks for the "beautiful commemoration".
"It is very pleasing to see so many people from the entire community come here in prayer today which I feel is a measure of respect for the families and all those who suffered.
"Four years on, it doesn't get any easier and there have been some very difficult times, but I think it is important for the people of Omagh to know that people outside still care."
Mr Gallagher also expressed his frustration at the lack of progress on bringing the perpetrators of the terrorist attack to justice and said he was disappointed that Sinn Fein has not provided any assistance towards the investigation.
"That does not surprise me but it is still disappointing. I welcome those who lay down their arms and move forward but they must embrace all of the peace process and not just the bits that they like.
"The families will never be at peace until we get justice and those who carried out the bombing behind bars.
"No one needs to suffer this much for misguided political ideals," he said.
"We owe it to our children to create a peaceful society and I would appeal to those with knowledge of the attack to come forward and share it with, either the Garda Siochana team, or investigators here in the North," added Mr Gallagher.
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
RELATIVES of the 31 people killed in the Omagh bomb were joined by hundreds of others at a special service to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the atrocity last Thursday afternoon.
People from all sections of the community came together for the moving lunchtime ecumenical service which was held in the Garden of Remembrance at Drumragh Avenue close to the scene of the bomb.
Shops and businesses in the town closed for the duration of the ceremony which began with a minute's silence in memory of those who lost their lives and those who were injured as a result of the August 15, 1998, attack. Victims of last year's September 11th attacks in the US were also remembered.
Those who came to pay their respects included local nationalist and unionist politicians and NIO Minister Des Browne.
Families of the two Spanish victims, Rocio Abad Ramos and Fernando Blasco Baselga, were also present, along with representatives from Buncrana where young victims, Orin Doherty, James Barker and Sean McLaughlin came from.
The ceremony was organised by Omagh District Council, Sperrin Lakeland Trust and Omagh Churches Forum.
Following the one minute's silence, the names of each of the 31 victims were called out prompting one onlooker to comment: "Hearing those names just brings the horror of that day all back home."
The service then began with a few words from Danny McSorley, Chief Executive with Omagh District Council, who welcomed those in attendance and those who travelled a distance to "show solidarity with the people of Omagh".
Mr McSorley said: "Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Today we come together in word, in music, and in prayer, to remember those who died and were injured as a result of the attack on our town on that fateful Saturday afternoon four years ago."
The service was conducted by local religious leaders from several denominations who pledged that "Our love for the dead and injured of August 1998 will not come to an end."
The poignant occasion was also marked by a number of beautiful songs performed by Jonathon Mehaffey, Eleanor O'Neill, Margaret Mitchell, Barney McAleer and Andrea McDaid from Buncrana who was a neighbour of Orin Doherty and Sean McLaughlin.
There were readings from Mandy Walker, who lost her mother Olive Hawkes in the bomb, Kathleen McNamee and Sylvia Donaldson who read a poem in Spanish.
Sister Aenges of Hazel Wand Theatre Group devised a special ceremony involving the carrying of a wreath by Bronagh Donnelly, Blanad Kerr and Laura McAllister.
The ceremony concluded with the official laying of wreaths and floral tributes in the Memorial Garden. Danny McSorley laid the first wreath on behalf of the people of Omagh followed by floral tributes from loved ones of the deceased.
Fr Kevin Mullan, who helped organise this year's event, felt the service had a tremendous calming effect on the families and everyone present.
He said: "I think the service brought all of the feelings of grief together for a half hour of calmness and it is a blessing that so many people could gather together and pool all of their thoughts into one feeling of remembrance.
"The community is still very fragmented between remembering those who lost their lives and the struggle for justice but everybody is working at their own path and hopefully all of the paths will eventually be for the good of everybody".
Afterwards, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan lost his life in the Real IRA attack, expressed his thanks for the "beautiful commemoration".
"It is very pleasing to see so many people from the entire community come here in prayer today which I feel is a measure of respect for the families and all those who suffered.
"Four years on, it doesn't get any easier and there have been some very difficult times, but I think it is important for the people of Omagh to know that people outside still care."
Mr Gallagher also expressed his frustration at the lack of progress on bringing the perpetrators of the terrorist attack to justice and said he was disappointed that Sinn Fein has not provided any assistance towards the investigation.
"That does not surprise me but it is still disappointing. I welcome those who lay down their arms and move forward but they must embrace all of the peace process and not just the bits that they like.
"The families will never be at peace until we get justice and those who carried out the bombing behind bars.
"No one needs to suffer this much for misguided political ideals," he said.
"We owe it to our children to create a peaceful society and I would appeal to those with knowledge of the attack to come forward and share it with, either the Garda Siochana team, or investigators here in the North," added Mr Gallagher.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1087
Published Date: 22-Aug-02
Related Images
