OMAGH SHOP DECIDES NOT TO STOCK 'BOMB' GAME
Omagh shop decides not to stock 'bomb' game
AN OMAGH business man, whose wife was injured in the August 15tb bomb, told the "Herald" yesterday (Wednesday) his reason for not stocking the new toy game of the year "Pass the Bomb".
Ivor White of White's Toymaster, in Bridge Street, said he felt the game was "much too insensitive for the town which was still recovering after the atrocity.
The shop owner even declined to sell fireworks in the run up to Halloween this year as he felt it would bring back too many bad memories for local people.
Pass the Bomb was listed in this year's Christmas toys catalogue, issued to every home in Northern Ireland by the Toymaster group, as "the explosive game that will blow your mind".
Ivor's wife, Norma, was one of the seriously injured in the bomb which killed 29 people. She lost her left eye and was detained in the Royal Victoria Hospital for two weeks.
Ivor said he felt the people of Omagh could "do without toys like Pass the Bomb".
He explained the problem was that it was a UK listing and people there did not really have the "feelings that we have here particularly after the Omagh bomb".
"We are trying to build a positive image of Omagh" said Mr White.
The game was listed as the game of the year by one of the British newspapers.
It has been available for some years but Toymaster resisted including it in their annual catalogue in the past because of its name.
The aim of the game is to use cards to make up words with a maximum period of one minute before a toy bomb explodes. Included in the contents of the game are two packs of letter cards, a special dice and the bomb which is started by pressing a red button. The device has a timer so that the bomb explodes after 10-16 seconds.
The game is designed for children aged 12 years and over but will not be available this Christmas at Toymaster in Omagh's Bridge Street.
Marketing manager with Toymaster, Nick Curry said there was no question of the group trying to offend anyone by placing the game on the Christmas market.
Mr Curry said the decision by the Daily Telegraph to list Pass the Bomb as game of the year was the main reason that Toymaster opted to include the toy in their Christmas catalogue this year.
Mr Curry said that while the game's name was unfortunate, the product was good.
"If there was anything controversial or anything linking us with a subversive movement, we would just walk away" he said.
Meanwhile Ivor, his wife and little daughter, Elaine are "coping reasonable well" and simply living "from day to day" in the aftermath of the bomb.
"We are just so thankful to have Norma back at home" said Ivor.
He explained that his wife was not yet "self sufficient" and needed help around the home.
"She can't eat properly because of a cheek injury, which she will have repaired at the Royal Hospital" said Ivor.
He added that is wife would be receiving on going hospital treatment "for quite a while"
AN OMAGH business man, whose wife was injured in the August 15tb bomb, told the "Herald" yesterday (Wednesday) his reason for not stocking the new toy game of the year "Pass the Bomb".
Ivor White of White's Toymaster, in Bridge Street, said he felt the game was "much too insensitive for the town which was still recovering after the atrocity.
The shop owner even declined to sell fireworks in the run up to Halloween this year as he felt it would bring back too many bad memories for local people.
Pass the Bomb was listed in this year's Christmas toys catalogue, issued to every home in Northern Ireland by the Toymaster group, as "the explosive game that will blow your mind".
Ivor's wife, Norma, was one of the seriously injured in the bomb which killed 29 people. She lost her left eye and was detained in the Royal Victoria Hospital for two weeks.
Ivor said he felt the people of Omagh could "do without toys like Pass the Bomb".
He explained the problem was that it was a UK listing and people there did not really have the "feelings that we have here particularly after the Omagh bomb".
"We are trying to build a positive image of Omagh" said Mr White.
The game was listed as the game of the year by one of the British newspapers.
It has been available for some years but Toymaster resisted including it in their annual catalogue in the past because of its name.
The aim of the game is to use cards to make up words with a maximum period of one minute before a toy bomb explodes. Included in the contents of the game are two packs of letter cards, a special dice and the bomb which is started by pressing a red button. The device has a timer so that the bomb explodes after 10-16 seconds.
The game is designed for children aged 12 years and over but will not be available this Christmas at Toymaster in Omagh's Bridge Street.
Marketing manager with Toymaster, Nick Curry said there was no question of the group trying to offend anyone by placing the game on the Christmas market.
Mr Curry said the decision by the Daily Telegraph to list Pass the Bomb as game of the year was the main reason that Toymaster opted to include the toy in their Christmas catalogue this year.
Mr Curry said that while the game's name was unfortunate, the product was good.
"If there was anything controversial or anything linking us with a subversive movement, we would just walk away" he said.
Meanwhile Ivor, his wife and little daughter, Elaine are "coping reasonable well" and simply living "from day to day" in the aftermath of the bomb.
"We are just so thankful to have Norma back at home" said Ivor.
He explained that his wife was not yet "self sufficient" and needed help around the home.
"She can't eat properly because of a cheek injury, which she will have repaired at the Royal Hospital" said Ivor.
He added that is wife would be receiving on going hospital treatment "for quite a while"
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1198
Published Date: 15-Oct-98
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