FUND LAUNCH
FUND LAUNCH
BY: ROSETTA DONNELLY
Meeting to consider setting up relatives committee to speed up payments to those most in need
On the day that the Omagh Fund had its official launch in the town, a relative of one of the deceased has called for a committee to be set up, made from the families of those bereaved or injured in the bomb.
Lawrence Rushe, whose wife Libby, was killed in the 15th August atrocity, said there is a real need for the people most affected by the bomb to receive money quickly and he feels that to speed up the process, relatives should get together.
He is organising a public meeting to be held shortly and he is hoping that all those injured either mentally or physically, and the families of those bereaved to come together, and form a committee to liaise with the Omagh Fund Trustees.
Yesterday, Sean O'Dwyer, Chairman of the Fund, told the 'Herald' that they are finding it very difficult to contact the people who are injured, as they are prohibited by medical confidentiality, from finding out the names and addresses of those hurt in the bomb or still in hospital.
Mr O'Dwyer said he doesn't want to see anyone in desperate need of money if they are entitled to money from the Fund. "I am willing to write cheques right away, but I must know who the people are," he said.
The chairman said he would happily attend any public meeting that would be called, in a bid to cut through the communication breakdown.
Lawrence Rushe said that even though the spotlight has been on the town of Omagh for the past six weeks, the reality is that the people truly affected by the bomb, have been forgotten.
He said he has spoken to families of those bereaved and the badly injured, and that they all feel as if they are being left out. He said all they hear is story after story about fundraising for the bomb victims, while they are without 'ready cash'.
His main criticism was directed at the statutory bodies such as the social services and the health bodies, which he said had not got in touch with families to see how they are coping financially and every other way.
He is hopeful that with the setting up of the Fund that people in need will get money quickly and efficiently, and that not too much money will be spent on administrating the Fund.
He said those bereaved or nursing injured relative are incurring exorbitant expenses, but they feel no one cares how they are coping "These are people who are too proud to ask for help, they feel that by asking for money, they are in some way belittling their loved ones who died
"I met families who did not have the money to buy new shoes for the children for the funeral of their parents. They did not have the money to put over the wake".
He said one official who he complained to suggested that they would probably get credit from the shops. "This is disgraceful to even suggest this" he added.
Mr Rushe who owns Rushe Signs, and whose wife Libbi ran the shop 'Pine Emporium' at Market Street, said he does not need money nor does he want it for himself. He said he has good friends and a hugely supportive family who have been a tower of strength to him.
But he said not everyone has this support mechanism. There are people who have to take off work to look after their dead relative's children. Fathers who have to stay at home and look after injured children. These people have no money and are being asked to survive.
When it was put to him that families of those bereaved did get �1,000 and the injured who were still in hospital on 10th September, got �500, Mr Rushe said this was given three weeks after the bomb. "Those families needed the money right away for funerals, clothes and travelling up and down to Belfast, Derry or wherever their loved ones were".
Mr Rushe said he has been talking to other families from Buncrana to Omagh, because he feels he needs to talk to them to 'cushion' his own emotions and help him get through. I went to see and talk to them, and was saddened and then annoyed at how they are being expected to pay for everything themselves.
He visited every bereaved family and as of last weekend, many had not been visited by anyone from statutory agencies.
"Where are all these so called carers?" he asked.
Mr Rushe said he cannot get over the loss of his wife and no amount of money will ever recompense for her loss. "I love Libbi and I miss her so badly. No amount of money could make up for my loss?".
But he says his loss and the awful she of his wife's injuries are replicated through many families, many of whom cannot a probably never will come to terms with the way their loved ones died.
"I was given �1,000 which I gave away to families I thought needed it more".
But he angrily asked "Why should I have to do that?".
Mr Rushe hopes that through the public meeting, the families will get the chance to meet with others in the same situation, and hopefully speed up the process of awarding money.
BY: ROSETTA DONNELLY
Meeting to consider setting up relatives committee to speed up payments to those most in need
On the day that the Omagh Fund had its official launch in the town, a relative of one of the deceased has called for a committee to be set up, made from the families of those bereaved or injured in the bomb.
Lawrence Rushe, whose wife Libby, was killed in the 15th August atrocity, said there is a real need for the people most affected by the bomb to receive money quickly and he feels that to speed up the process, relatives should get together.
He is organising a public meeting to be held shortly and he is hoping that all those injured either mentally or physically, and the families of those bereaved to come together, and form a committee to liaise with the Omagh Fund Trustees.
Yesterday, Sean O'Dwyer, Chairman of the Fund, told the 'Herald' that they are finding it very difficult to contact the people who are injured, as they are prohibited by medical confidentiality, from finding out the names and addresses of those hurt in the bomb or still in hospital.
Mr O'Dwyer said he doesn't want to see anyone in desperate need of money if they are entitled to money from the Fund. "I am willing to write cheques right away, but I must know who the people are," he said.
The chairman said he would happily attend any public meeting that would be called, in a bid to cut through the communication breakdown.
Lawrence Rushe said that even though the spotlight has been on the town of Omagh for the past six weeks, the reality is that the people truly affected by the bomb, have been forgotten.
He said he has spoken to families of those bereaved and the badly injured, and that they all feel as if they are being left out. He said all they hear is story after story about fundraising for the bomb victims, while they are without 'ready cash'.
His main criticism was directed at the statutory bodies such as the social services and the health bodies, which he said had not got in touch with families to see how they are coping financially and every other way.
He is hopeful that with the setting up of the Fund that people in need will get money quickly and efficiently, and that not too much money will be spent on administrating the Fund.
He said those bereaved or nursing injured relative are incurring exorbitant expenses, but they feel no one cares how they are coping "These are people who are too proud to ask for help, they feel that by asking for money, they are in some way belittling their loved ones who died
"I met families who did not have the money to buy new shoes for the children for the funeral of their parents. They did not have the money to put over the wake".
He said one official who he complained to suggested that they would probably get credit from the shops. "This is disgraceful to even suggest this" he added.
Mr Rushe who owns Rushe Signs, and whose wife Libbi ran the shop 'Pine Emporium' at Market Street, said he does not need money nor does he want it for himself. He said he has good friends and a hugely supportive family who have been a tower of strength to him.
But he said not everyone has this support mechanism. There are people who have to take off work to look after their dead relative's children. Fathers who have to stay at home and look after injured children. These people have no money and are being asked to survive.
When it was put to him that families of those bereaved did get �1,000 and the injured who were still in hospital on 10th September, got �500, Mr Rushe said this was given three weeks after the bomb. "Those families needed the money right away for funerals, clothes and travelling up and down to Belfast, Derry or wherever their loved ones were".
Mr Rushe said he has been talking to other families from Buncrana to Omagh, because he feels he needs to talk to them to 'cushion' his own emotions and help him get through. I went to see and talk to them, and was saddened and then annoyed at how they are being expected to pay for everything themselves.
He visited every bereaved family and as of last weekend, many had not been visited by anyone from statutory agencies.
"Where are all these so called carers?" he asked.
Mr Rushe said he cannot get over the loss of his wife and no amount of money will ever recompense for her loss. "I love Libbi and I miss her so badly. No amount of money could make up for my loss?".
But he says his loss and the awful she of his wife's injuries are replicated through many families, many of whom cannot a probably never will come to terms with the way their loved ones died.
"I was given �1,000 which I gave away to families I thought needed it more".
But he angrily asked "Why should I have to do that?".
Mr Rushe hopes that through the public meeting, the families will get the chance to meet with others in the same situation, and hopefully speed up the process of awarding money.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1162
Published Date: 01-Oct-98
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