BABY PROVES TO BE A NEW LIGHT IN KEVIN'S EYE
Baby proves to be a new light in Kevin's eye
BY MARK McKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
Having spent years not caring if he wakened each morning, the darkness and misery felt by Kevin Skelton - whose wife Philomena was killed in the Omagh bomb - has began to subside with a new light shining in his life.
Ten years after that fateful day, Kevin has discovered a reason to get out of bed each day, a reason for living. A new wife and beautiful baby daughter has allowed him to look to the future for the first time with a renewed hope and optimism for life since his wife was murdered on the streets of Omagh.
A happy day out shopping for new school uniforms with his family on a sunny Saturday afternoon ten years ago turned to despair and desolation. Having been in SD Kells shop when the bomb went off, Kevin explained that only seconds after the blast he found Philomena lying motionless amid the rubble.
He said at the time, "We were only three feet apart with just a shop wall dividing us, yet she was killed and I came out of it with hardly a scratch."
Although the scars of that day are not physical, Kevin has been tortured by the memories of it since. He and his daughters tried to get Philomena's pulse before being dragged away from the scene by a couple of policemen, stating that the horrific sights he witnessed that afternoon had left an indelible imprint on his mind.
"She lived for her family and looked after not just our own youngsters but anyone else's that needed a bit of love and care," said Kevin.
It was this love for others that has now laid the foundations for Kevin's new life having recently re-married and with a 21-month old bouncing baby daughter.
Philomena was heavily involved with the North West Romanian Appeal and in only the month prior to the bomb had brought a young girl named Andreea over to their Drumquin home for three weeks.
Kevin continued this work in his wife's memory making annual trips to Romania which would prove to be the catalyst that pulled him out of the despair he endured as he ended up adopting Andreea and marrying her mother Maria.
Kevin explained, "Mena answered an advert in the paper to help raise funds for the Romanian appeal. She raised the most money in the area and got to pick whom she wanted to bring over out of a whole catalogue of children. I didn't know why she chose Andreea, but I know now as I am married to her mother.
"I would never have been in Romania if it hadn't been for Mena, so would never have met Maria."
During these trips to Romania Kevin started to develop feelings for Maria, but would not act on this due to a feeling of guilt.
"I never let on how I felt and the each time I went out the harder it became," said Kevin. "I then went out three and a half years ago for the official opening of an orphanage we had started. When I returned, Maria sent me a letter telling him she knew how I felt about her and that she felt the same."
A few years later they are happily married, living in Omagh with a beautiful baby girl, Gabriella, with his thoughts that were dominated by the pain of the past now subsiding for the sanguinity for the future.
Kevin explained the transformation he has gone through in the past ten years.
"I would never have got involved with Romania or ever visited there if it wasn't for Mena. At that time all I was interested in was working to look after my family and refereeing football.
"Seven nights a week I would have been out refereeing somewhere, whether it be football, hurling or soccer, as well as sitting on referees and disciplinary boards. I would get a call at 11 o'clock on a Sunday morning and I would be away to referee a match. That is one thing I regret. Not spending enough time with my children. I have more time now with Gabby than I had with my other children.
"After the bomb I lost all interest in it and my health started to suffer. I did go back to referee a few times. I went to the toughest derby in Tyrone, Moortown against Ardboe, and I heard the manager say to the players that Kevin is the ref today so no messing about. After that I was finished. I was happier when they were slagging me than having pity.
"For years I had no interest in wakening each morning. That changed when I got married again and got stronger when Gabby was born."
The first step Kevin made to moving on was when he moved house as his family home in Drumquin overlooked the nearby graveyard and he would pass the hours gazing at Philomena's grave from his window.
"There was no getting away from it. Now I choose when I visit. I go every Friday and put a candle on her grave," said Kevin. "That was the first break as I was starting to build a cage around myself.
"I would be wild to get out to the pub on a Friday or Saturday night, but when there I was wild to get home again. I couldn't stay anywhere and would just sit in the corner watching the TV. Not even sleeping in a bed, just falling asleep on the sofa. My children were all growing up and it was going to end up with just the dog and me.
"My only escape was my visits to Romania and when that letter came through the door from Maria I must have read it 40 times. It left me at a crossroads. I could turn left or I could turn right and thank God I took the right turn and I am happy again."
BY MARK McKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
Having spent years not caring if he wakened each morning, the darkness and misery felt by Kevin Skelton - whose wife Philomena was killed in the Omagh bomb - has began to subside with a new light shining in his life.
Ten years after that fateful day, Kevin has discovered a reason to get out of bed each day, a reason for living. A new wife and beautiful baby daughter has allowed him to look to the future for the first time with a renewed hope and optimism for life since his wife was murdered on the streets of Omagh.
A happy day out shopping for new school uniforms with his family on a sunny Saturday afternoon ten years ago turned to despair and desolation. Having been in SD Kells shop when the bomb went off, Kevin explained that only seconds after the blast he found Philomena lying motionless amid the rubble.
He said at the time, "We were only three feet apart with just a shop wall dividing us, yet she was killed and I came out of it with hardly a scratch."
Although the scars of that day are not physical, Kevin has been tortured by the memories of it since. He and his daughters tried to get Philomena's pulse before being dragged away from the scene by a couple of policemen, stating that the horrific sights he witnessed that afternoon had left an indelible imprint on his mind.
"She lived for her family and looked after not just our own youngsters but anyone else's that needed a bit of love and care," said Kevin.
It was this love for others that has now laid the foundations for Kevin's new life having recently re-married and with a 21-month old bouncing baby daughter.
Philomena was heavily involved with the North West Romanian Appeal and in only the month prior to the bomb had brought a young girl named Andreea over to their Drumquin home for three weeks.
Kevin continued this work in his wife's memory making annual trips to Romania which would prove to be the catalyst that pulled him out of the despair he endured as he ended up adopting Andreea and marrying her mother Maria.
Kevin explained, "Mena answered an advert in the paper to help raise funds for the Romanian appeal. She raised the most money in the area and got to pick whom she wanted to bring over out of a whole catalogue of children. I didn't know why she chose Andreea, but I know now as I am married to her mother.
"I would never have been in Romania if it hadn't been for Mena, so would never have met Maria."
During these trips to Romania Kevin started to develop feelings for Maria, but would not act on this due to a feeling of guilt.
"I never let on how I felt and the each time I went out the harder it became," said Kevin. "I then went out three and a half years ago for the official opening of an orphanage we had started. When I returned, Maria sent me a letter telling him she knew how I felt about her and that she felt the same."
A few years later they are happily married, living in Omagh with a beautiful baby girl, Gabriella, with his thoughts that were dominated by the pain of the past now subsiding for the sanguinity for the future.
Kevin explained the transformation he has gone through in the past ten years.
"I would never have got involved with Romania or ever visited there if it wasn't for Mena. At that time all I was interested in was working to look after my family and refereeing football.
"Seven nights a week I would have been out refereeing somewhere, whether it be football, hurling or soccer, as well as sitting on referees and disciplinary boards. I would get a call at 11 o'clock on a Sunday morning and I would be away to referee a match. That is one thing I regret. Not spending enough time with my children. I have more time now with Gabby than I had with my other children.
"After the bomb I lost all interest in it and my health started to suffer. I did go back to referee a few times. I went to the toughest derby in Tyrone, Moortown against Ardboe, and I heard the manager say to the players that Kevin is the ref today so no messing about. After that I was finished. I was happier when they were slagging me than having pity.
"For years I had no interest in wakening each morning. That changed when I got married again and got stronger when Gabby was born."
The first step Kevin made to moving on was when he moved house as his family home in Drumquin overlooked the nearby graveyard and he would pass the hours gazing at Philomena's grave from his window.
"There was no getting away from it. Now I choose when I visit. I go every Friday and put a candle on her grave," said Kevin. "That was the first break as I was starting to build a cage around myself.
"I would be wild to get out to the pub on a Friday or Saturday night, but when there I was wild to get home again. I couldn't stay anywhere and would just sit in the corner watching the TV. Not even sleeping in a bed, just falling asleep on the sofa. My children were all growing up and it was going to end up with just the dog and me.
"My only escape was my visits to Romania and when that letter came through the door from Maria I must have read it 40 times. It left me at a crossroads. I could turn left or I could turn right and thank God I took the right turn and I am happy again."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH10An/44
Published Date: 14-Aug-08
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