�6.3M DISBURSED BY OMAGH FUND TRUSTEES
�6.3m disbursed by Omagh Fund trustees
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
Families of deceased each receive 'gift' of �72,000
THE Omagh Fund went public this week on how they spent the �6.3m donated since the Omagh bomb in August 1998.
In the first official report the Trustees revealed that they gave �2,165,500m to the families of the deceased. This meant that for each death the Fund paid out �72,183 and in the case of the unborn twins the Fund made a �72,183 payment for both children.
The Fund set up two Trusts - the Discretionary Trust and the Charitable Trust. The Discretionary Trust, which received �4,963,657 in income was used to provide money to the families of the bereaved. �3m of this was paid to those physically injured.
The Charitable Trust received a total net income of �1,418,059. Because of its charitable status this money could not be given directly to those injured. The money has however been donated to the Trauma Centre and Omagh Community House which the Trustees of the Fund believe will be money very well spent.
Sean O'Dwyer, chairman of the Fund said "The Omagh Community House will have a memorial inside it, but the building itself and the community purpose it has means it's like a 'living memorial' to those who died."
The Omagh Fund report contains details of how following the 1998 atrocity, members of the public began pledging financial report and it was decided by the Council to set up an appeal fund.
APPEAL TO PUBLIC
At the outset it was decided there should be no formal fund raising either by the Council or Trustees. The nature of the atrocity gave sufficient awareness of the appeal to the public. Nevertheless, when people and organisations enquired they were encouraged to donate and fundraise. The very large amount received proves that this Council policy was very successful.
Many functions were held in aid of the Fund throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and in London, Brussels and New York. These included the 'Late Late Show' on RTE, the Darren Clark Golf Pro Am, the many golf clubs which took part in the Omagh competition, the soccer matches in Derry, Omagh and Dublin, the very successful Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) appeal launched worldwide, the Irish Rugby Union (IRFU) appeal and the concerts in Derry, Belfast, Brussels and elsewhere. White Records launched a CD with many of Ireland's leading artists taking part. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern hosted dinners for corporate donors in London and Dublin.
In addition to these, many smaller functions were held in North and South in schools, clubs, pubs, and by many other small groups and individuals raising smaller amounts but in total very significant amounts of money.
Many people, organisations and companies gave private donations.
DISCRETIONARY FUND
Sadly, whilst there was no difficulty in identifying the families of those who died, the names of those physically injured were not so easy to determine. The rules under which Health and Social Services and the police have to operate deprived them of the authority to provide the names of the injured.
To overcome this, the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust circulated all those on their books with registration forms. These were not called claim forms as the Fund wanted every person who was physically injured in any way to register. A few people were only identified after some considerable time but the Trustees hope that all the more seriously injured did register.
MEDICAL PANEL
Payments were made to 327 people who were physically injured. As most people will remember, many of these were very seriously injured.
The Trustees asked three members of the medical profession to grade these injuries. Physical injuries were classified into 13 categories and rates of gift payments set against each category.
One of the principles adopted by the Trustees was to make payments on the basis of individual need. The Compensation Agency makes payments calculated, on the degree of injury, loss of earnings, family circumstances etc. The Trustees, therefore, reviewed their policy and decided to make payments solely on the category of injury and for bereaved families the same amount was gifted for each person killed.
TRAUMA PAYMENTS
The Trustees decided not to make individual payments from the discretionary fund to those who had suffered 'Post Traumatic Street Disorder (PTSD)'. Instead they asked the Chief Executive of Omagh District Council, John McKinney to form a representative committee to look at projects to help those suffering from PTSD and indeed at other projects suitable for support from the Charitable Trust.
The committee represented a wide spectrum of society including a representative from the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group and an Omagh Fund Trustee. Two projects have had their origins from this committee. One being the development of the Omagh Community House and the other being the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation (NICTT).
ADMINISTRATION COSTS
The cost of administering the fund was kept to a minimum (�14,000) because businesses gave of their staff and equipment to the Omagh Fund.
CHARITABLE FUND
The principal reason for the Fund to have a charitable trust was to encourage high taxpayers and other charitable trusts to donate to 'Omagh'. In addition, the CD 'Across the Bridge of Hope' was promoted for the charitable trust. Only monies specifically earmarked for the charitable trust went into that fund.
THANKS
Mr O'Dwyer went on to thank and list all the people who took time to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
The chairman went on to thank John McKinney and his team at Omagh District Council 'who did their work so efficiently'. "Despite all their other work, they were always available when we needed their help.
He also praised the work of Fund Manager, Brian Oliphant. "He and his colleagues worked diligently, courteously, sensitively and with a strong sense of purpose and vision. It was a great pleasure to have worked with them".
HOME VISITORS
Because of the large number injured the Trustees decided to appoint Home Visitors to visit those who had registered. Eight visitors were appointed.
Mr O'Dwyer said "These people were of the highest calibre and did a fine job".
'Thank you' letters to fund
Money will make life easier
I am writing on behalf of my daughter to say thank you very much for the cheque which we received on Friday morning is improving but still has quite some way to go.
The money will be very useful and will make life a bit easier. I would like you to convey our thanks to everyone concerned, a special word of thanks to your visitor who assessed in a helpful, sympathetic and dignified manner.
While in our home she created a warm, friendly atmosphere which we hadn't experienced for some time.
We again say thank you very much to everyone.
Yours sincerely
Appreciate the contribution
This note is just to thank you for taking the time and trouble to come and see me and also to ask you to pass on to the Trustees that we very much appreciate the contribution from the Fund.
It is very comforting to know that people like yourself have us in their thoughts and prayers.
Once again many thanks for your thoughtfulness
Yours sincerely
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
Families of deceased each receive 'gift' of �72,000
THE Omagh Fund went public this week on how they spent the �6.3m donated since the Omagh bomb in August 1998.
In the first official report the Trustees revealed that they gave �2,165,500m to the families of the deceased. This meant that for each death the Fund paid out �72,183 and in the case of the unborn twins the Fund made a �72,183 payment for both children.
The Fund set up two Trusts - the Discretionary Trust and the Charitable Trust. The Discretionary Trust, which received �4,963,657 in income was used to provide money to the families of the bereaved. �3m of this was paid to those physically injured.
The Charitable Trust received a total net income of �1,418,059. Because of its charitable status this money could not be given directly to those injured. The money has however been donated to the Trauma Centre and Omagh Community House which the Trustees of the Fund believe will be money very well spent.
Sean O'Dwyer, chairman of the Fund said "The Omagh Community House will have a memorial inside it, but the building itself and the community purpose it has means it's like a 'living memorial' to those who died."
The Omagh Fund report contains details of how following the 1998 atrocity, members of the public began pledging financial report and it was decided by the Council to set up an appeal fund.
APPEAL TO PUBLIC
At the outset it was decided there should be no formal fund raising either by the Council or Trustees. The nature of the atrocity gave sufficient awareness of the appeal to the public. Nevertheless, when people and organisations enquired they were encouraged to donate and fundraise. The very large amount received proves that this Council policy was very successful.
Many functions were held in aid of the Fund throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and in London, Brussels and New York. These included the 'Late Late Show' on RTE, the Darren Clark Golf Pro Am, the many golf clubs which took part in the Omagh competition, the soccer matches in Derry, Omagh and Dublin, the very successful Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) appeal launched worldwide, the Irish Rugby Union (IRFU) appeal and the concerts in Derry, Belfast, Brussels and elsewhere. White Records launched a CD with many of Ireland's leading artists taking part. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern hosted dinners for corporate donors in London and Dublin.
In addition to these, many smaller functions were held in North and South in schools, clubs, pubs, and by many other small groups and individuals raising smaller amounts but in total very significant amounts of money.
Many people, organisations and companies gave private donations.
DISCRETIONARY FUND
Sadly, whilst there was no difficulty in identifying the families of those who died, the names of those physically injured were not so easy to determine. The rules under which Health and Social Services and the police have to operate deprived them of the authority to provide the names of the injured.
To overcome this, the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust circulated all those on their books with registration forms. These were not called claim forms as the Fund wanted every person who was physically injured in any way to register. A few people were only identified after some considerable time but the Trustees hope that all the more seriously injured did register.
MEDICAL PANEL
Payments were made to 327 people who were physically injured. As most people will remember, many of these were very seriously injured.
The Trustees asked three members of the medical profession to grade these injuries. Physical injuries were classified into 13 categories and rates of gift payments set against each category.
One of the principles adopted by the Trustees was to make payments on the basis of individual need. The Compensation Agency makes payments calculated, on the degree of injury, loss of earnings, family circumstances etc. The Trustees, therefore, reviewed their policy and decided to make payments solely on the category of injury and for bereaved families the same amount was gifted for each person killed.
TRAUMA PAYMENTS
The Trustees decided not to make individual payments from the discretionary fund to those who had suffered 'Post Traumatic Street Disorder (PTSD)'. Instead they asked the Chief Executive of Omagh District Council, John McKinney to form a representative committee to look at projects to help those suffering from PTSD and indeed at other projects suitable for support from the Charitable Trust.
The committee represented a wide spectrum of society including a representative from the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group and an Omagh Fund Trustee. Two projects have had their origins from this committee. One being the development of the Omagh Community House and the other being the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation (NICTT).
ADMINISTRATION COSTS
The cost of administering the fund was kept to a minimum (�14,000) because businesses gave of their staff and equipment to the Omagh Fund.
CHARITABLE FUND
The principal reason for the Fund to have a charitable trust was to encourage high taxpayers and other charitable trusts to donate to 'Omagh'. In addition, the CD 'Across the Bridge of Hope' was promoted for the charitable trust. Only monies specifically earmarked for the charitable trust went into that fund.
THANKS
Mr O'Dwyer went on to thank and list all the people who took time to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
The chairman went on to thank John McKinney and his team at Omagh District Council 'who did their work so efficiently'. "Despite all their other work, they were always available when we needed their help.
He also praised the work of Fund Manager, Brian Oliphant. "He and his colleagues worked diligently, courteously, sensitively and with a strong sense of purpose and vision. It was a great pleasure to have worked with them".
HOME VISITORS
Because of the large number injured the Trustees decided to appoint Home Visitors to visit those who had registered. Eight visitors were appointed.
Mr O'Dwyer said "These people were of the highest calibre and did a fine job".
'Thank you' letters to fund
Money will make life easier
I am writing on behalf of my daughter to say thank you very much for the cheque which we received on Friday morning is improving but still has quite some way to go.
The money will be very useful and will make life a bit easier. I would like you to convey our thanks to everyone concerned, a special word of thanks to your visitor who assessed in a helpful, sympathetic and dignified manner.
While in our home she created a warm, friendly atmosphere which we hadn't experienced for some time.
We again say thank you very much to everyone.
Yours sincerely
Appreciate the contribution
This note is just to thank you for taking the time and trouble to come and see me and also to ask you to pass on to the Trustees that we very much appreciate the contribution from the Fund.
It is very comforting to know that people like yourself have us in their thoughts and prayers.
Once again many thanks for your thoughtfulness
Yours sincerely
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1097
Published Date: 12-Sep-02
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