UH/1225

Omagh Fund to be wound up by August
BY: JOHN McCUSKER

Will still have a presence
TRUSTEES of the Omagh Fund have asked that all money raising activities be wound-up by August 14th the day before the first anniversary of the atrocity.
But administrators point out that donations will still be accepted after the proposed cut-off date and trustees will continue to meet regularly in order to administer the distribution of funds.
Details of the closure were announced at a briefing on Monday morning, attended by the fund's chairman Sean O'Dwyer, trustee Dr Clifford McCord, fund manager Brian Oliphant and John McKinney, Chief Executive of Omagh District Council.
Mr O'Dwyer said the fund's total currently stood at just over £2 million with an expected final tally of around £5.5 million.
Fund administrators had now reached a critical stage where they had to establish clear criteria regarding the distribution of funds, and members were currently taking expert advice on the allocation of payments to victims.
Further large-sum payments were expected to be awarded by the trustees in around four months time.
The chairman thanked the thousands of people and organisations who had donated money, time, resources and staff to enable the fund to exist and to operate.
However, he added, there was now a need to set finite time limits to its existence.
"The fund was set up to administer public donations from people keen to demonstrate their support for the victims.
"The trustees' task is to ensure fair and appropriate; disbursement of the monies: received, and to consider1 how the fund's support can best help the individuals and families concerned.
"We have decided that the fund should have a closing date of August 14 the day before the anniversary of the awful tragedy which led to its establishment.
"We believe this is an appropriate and sensitive date to choose, and one which best honours the memory of those who died. But that does not mean we will not receive donations after that date" said Mr O'Dwyer.
Fund trustees have met formally on 19 occasions to date and dealt with a variety of issues including fund size, payments to individuals and families, and medical criteria for injury categorisation and prioritisation.
Long-term trauma is issue currently being considered very closely by the trustees, and on this issue they are being advised by trauma experts from Sperrin Lakeland Trust.
"The trustees recognise that there are many people, beyond the bereaved and injured, for whom the full effects of the bomb may only become apparent over time.
"We want to make some form of practical and relevant provision for this eventuality and we thank the trauma team for their advice" said Mr O'Dwyer.
He went on to explain that the fund's first priority was to the bereaved, injured and traumatised and their families.
"We hope what the fund does will help them and that they will see and understand and believe that we in the fund have acted fairly, equitably and sensitively at all times."
Mr O'Dwyer said a large number of individuals and organisations were currently working "quietly and effectively" in order to help the fund. He offered sincere thanks to those who had donated money, organised events and raised funds on behalf of the victims.
"We have now distributed £1.3 million to the bereaved and physically injured. The first operating principle that we laid down when we were set up was to act with maximum speed, especially with regard to initial payments.
"We believe that the people needed help in the early stages and that we have done that" he added.
However, the fund was now reaching a critical stage when trustees had to establish clear criteria of the amounts to be distributed and that criteria adhered to.
"We will not hurry this job. We will seek to get expert advice and we will do the job, as far as we are concerned, competently. We want to be as open as we possible can" he said.
Turning to those who would benefit from payouts, the chairman said every effort was made to make contact with victims and their families.
"We are anxious to get people to register with the fund. We want to find every person out there and we certainly would not rely on people coming to us of their own bat, because some people consider their injury is not severe enough to claim.
"Some people do not want to claim even if one of their children was bereaved" he added.
Chief Executive of Omagh District Council, Mr John McKinney said all monies donated had now been passed on to the fund and any costs incurred had been taken care of by the local administration.
"Thousands have contributed to the fund and we are eternally grateful to them. A lot of events are ongoing all the time and we are looking forward to a sizable increase from what we have."
He said he welcomed the speed at which payments were awarded and hoped that the fund's progress could be maintained.
Hopes were high that a further £1.5 million could possibly be raised, although at the moment it was difficult to put a figure on a total figure, he added.
Trustees now believe they have contacted all those physically injured and bereaved in the bombing. Families affected have just received another payment from the fund and trustees expect to distribute the bulk of the remainder prior to the first anniversary of the atrocity.
To date the fund has received just over £2 million. Of this total, over £1.3 million has been disbursed to a total of 243 beneficiaries.
During the most recent distribution of cheques, fund representatives personally visited those affected in an effort to determine the feedback from victims.
Meetings have also taken place with members of the Support and Self Help Group set up by relatives of the bereaved and injured.
These meetings were described as both "informative and helpful" to all parties and trustees hoped to have further cooperation with the group.
Trustees also met with representatives of the Compensation Agency and held a very informative meeting with insurance experts in an effort to determine how the industry viewed compensation claims.
Consultants from Tyrone County Hospital and local GPs were also contacted by fund members.
The second Newsletter from the Omagh Fund has now been launched, providing information on the current state of the fund and amounts of monies paid out to date.
It also includes any other major developments which have taken place since the issue of the November news sheet.