PRAISE FOR PROTESTERS
Praise for protesters
DEAR SIR,
I feel it is only proper that I convey to your newspaper my unreserved praise for the efforts of Laurence Rushe, Geoffrey Simpson and others in their efforts to confront Dr. Mowlam, Secretary of State, and other Government Officials, during their attendance at Omagh Council Offices on Monday, 5th October 1998.
To refuse these ordinary and upstanding members of the Omagh community entry to the Council Chambers was in itself not only a grave insult to the people concerned but also to the people who so tragically lost their lives and were horrendously injured on 15th August 1998.
We, as the people of the Omagh area, must not allow the issue of the future of the Tyrone County Hospital to be conveniently swept under the carpet, or to be placed on the proverbial long finger by this Government.
My own concern if we do not act immediately with regard to this vital issue, is that the planned scaling down and ultimate closure will only be delayed to appease us, but will not be prevented.
It is not just the preservation of the hospital which is required, but also that the hospital be upgraded and an air ambulance service be installed.
Taking into account the amount of persons either killed or injured in this disaster, my calculations indicate that over 1% of the population of Omagh was directly affected by this explosion.
Let us hope that it will not be a question of "we told you so," if something of this nature, God forbid, occurs again.
People power is a wonderful tool, but only if it is supported by all the people and not just by the brave persons who confronted Dr. Mowlam on Monday 5th October, 1998.
Yours faithfully,
MICHAEL FAHY,
Ballynahatty Road, Omagh,
Co. Tyrone.
DEAR SIR,
I feel it is only proper that I convey to your newspaper my unreserved praise for the efforts of Laurence Rushe, Geoffrey Simpson and others in their efforts to confront Dr. Mowlam, Secretary of State, and other Government Officials, during their attendance at Omagh Council Offices on Monday, 5th October 1998.
To refuse these ordinary and upstanding members of the Omagh community entry to the Council Chambers was in itself not only a grave insult to the people concerned but also to the people who so tragically lost their lives and were horrendously injured on 15th August 1998.
We, as the people of the Omagh area, must not allow the issue of the future of the Tyrone County Hospital to be conveniently swept under the carpet, or to be placed on the proverbial long finger by this Government.
My own concern if we do not act immediately with regard to this vital issue, is that the planned scaling down and ultimate closure will only be delayed to appease us, but will not be prevented.
It is not just the preservation of the hospital which is required, but also that the hospital be upgraded and an air ambulance service be installed.
Taking into account the amount of persons either killed or injured in this disaster, my calculations indicate that over 1% of the population of Omagh was directly affected by this explosion.
Let us hope that it will not be a question of "we told you so," if something of this nature, God forbid, occurs again.
People power is a wonderful tool, but only if it is supported by all the people and not just by the brave persons who confronted Dr. Mowlam on Monday 5th October, 1998.
Yours faithfully,
MICHAEL FAHY,
Ballynahatty Road, Omagh,
Co. Tyrone.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1197
Published Date: 15-Oct-98
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