UH/1220

Shadow minister pays visit to Omagh victims
BY: MICHELE CANNING

SIX MONTHS on since the bomb, Andrew McKay returned to Omagh this week to see how the reconstruction and reconciliation process is
progressing.
The Shadow Spokesman for Northern Ireland returned to the town on Monday - as he had promised to do when he first visited in the aftermath of the atrocity in August.
On Monday he met with a delegation of businessmen, clergymen, the community sector, health officials and Council representatives for an update.
The MP said he was pleasantly surprised on his second visit to Omagh, where he was accompanied by his wife.
"I did not say it at the time but I did see the scale of the mountain that you had to climb. It is amazing that so much has been achieved. There is still so much to do."
His visit was welcomed by Sinn Fein Chairman of the Council, Sean Clarke, but he said he hoped it was not a matter of playing 'party polities' with the peace process.
At the meeting Ulster Unionist, Vice Chairman, Alan Rainey, urged the Conservative MP to do all in his power to help direct funds to the town as it attempts to rebuild after the bomb.
Mr Rainey said "I feel we are progressing extremely well. Everyone has made a positive contribution thus far.
"But we need a lot of funding and I am asking you as a friend and colleague to be there and to keep your finger on the pulse and a watchful eye on what is happening. If there is a purse open, I hope you are there to pick it."
He added "This is a coordinated effort of your help and our help."
Roy Allen, Chairman of Omagh Traders Association said everyone wanted Omagh to be the model town of Northern Ireland when it is reconstructed.
"After the bomb, we were very concerned about the affect on the town. People were not coming into the town as they were ashamed to come back into it. We launched Give a Day to Omagh, Omagh 2000 and Beyond and other ventures and everyone is going forward.
"We want Omagh to be the model town of Northern Ireland and if you return here in three, four or five years time, I think it will be the model town of Northern Ireland."
Omagh Council Chief Executive, John McKinney, said people had agreed to come together and explained that an integrated development plan has gone forward for planning approval.
He revealed that the development includes a community block of 12,000 sq ft which will serve as a focal point for the site of the bomb at Market Street.
The facility, situated on the second floor of the new development, will service 15 community organisations.
Mr McKinney said there would also be commercial input along the riverside.
John McConnell, of the NIO, said he had never seen a town that has reacted in such a positive way.
"We have been faced with a group of people working together on the same agenda."
Hugh Mills, Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust revealed that of the 300 people being counselled at the Trauma Centre - set up after the bomb 100 of those are children. "We continue to work with the families of the bereaved, those injured and those who were traumatised as a result of being at the scene".
Mr Mills said many of those caught up in the bomb were children and elderly people.
Brian Oliphant, Manager of the Omagh Fund, said £2 million had already been subscribed to the Fund, and another £1.8 million is due to come in.
Donations have been subscribed by 4000 different bodies, individuals and groups, he said.
Currently the money is being used to help those affected and the families of the bereaved. The trustees, he said, are currently looking to see if there is any outreach towards those traumatised.
"We are trying to be as sensitive as possible in the dispersal of the money."
Mr Oliphant said £629,000 has already been dispersed and the fund is looking to the immediate future for the dispersal of substantial money.
Responding Andrew McKay said the complaints made to him appeared to be coming from those whose relatives had died.
He said he sensed that the injured do not feel they have been as badly treated.
The Fund Chairman said "we are the recipients of the donated monies and we will do what we have to do as best we can, and as sensitively as we can.
"The two thirds of money remaining will be dispersed as quickly as possible. Every penny that has been collected by Omagh District Council has been placed into the Fund.
John McKinney, said he is conscious of rumours that large sums were being used for administration costs.
He said 'not one penny' of the money had been used for administration costs.
Saying he would like to set the record straight, McMcKinney added "the rumour machine is a very dangerous machine."
Reverend Robert Herron said the gap between those people who wanted to move on in the community and those who were still grieving was getting greater.
"This is a small rural community, people feel very vulnerable. We are trying to do things to bring the community together and bring out its strength."
Reverend Herron said one devastating blow was John McFall's blueprint for the future of hospital services.
"That was not helpful to a wounded community. We want the best hospital services for Tyrone and Fermanagh. The reaction that we had is what might have been expected from people who are feeling vulnerable.
Kieran Gallagher, of Omawest, said the community is behind everything that is going on.
"There are no two sides in the community, there is one community with several cultures all agreed to work together.
Drew Baxter, Chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Board, said there is such depth of hurt in the community, even among people who were not at the scene.
He said that depth of hurt cannot be fathomed by those outside of the community.
"People that can take 31 lives have no place in this society. No one around this table can give them a place.
"I am delighted that you have come to take the time to meet the relatives All we can do is hope and pray that this won't happen ever again" said Cllr Baxter.