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Wedding day joy for bomb victims
BY: JOHN McCUSKER

OMAGH bomb victim Donna Marie Keyes received a spontaneous round of applause from hundreds of well wishers as arrived for wedding ceremony in the town Seven months after the Market Street blast shattered her wedding plans, the 23-year-old finally walked down the aisle with fiancé Garry McGillion (24).
The couple, who were due to marry a week after last August's atrocity were both critically injured in the blast. The bride-to-be was given a slim chance of survival after suffering severe burns to two-thirds of her body. Her fiancé also suffered extensive burns to 35 per cent of his body.
But on Saturday the grief and heartbreak was cast aside as the couple finally tied the knot.
Both families were joined by over 180 guests for the ceremony in the Sacred Heart Church. Among those present were others severely injured in the explosion including 15-year-old Claire Gallagher who had just returned from the US a few days previously after joining in the St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House.
Pauline Green (19), who lost part of a leg in the bomb, was also among the first guests to welcome the bride into the church. And Garry's sister, Tracey Devine was allowed out of hospital where she is still receiving treatment for her injuries.
First to arrive at the church was the groom, accompanied by brothers Kieran, Cathal and Brian, together with Gary's young nephew and pageboy, Aaron Devine.
The bride's mother, Patricia Keyes accompanied bridesmaids Grainne McQuaid, Siobhan McMackin and Eimear Keyes, who wore elegant
cerise pink dresses. Little flower girl, Sinead Morris was dressed in white with a matching cerise bow.
Donna Marie arrived five minutes early and smiled and joked with onlookers as she emerged from the wedding limousine.
Hundreds of onlookers stood and applauded as the radiant bride walked the short distance to the church doors, linked to her father, Malachy.
Dressed in a sequined Cinderella style wedding gown with matching tiara and flowing train, the young bride had removed the protective plastic mask she must wear 23 hours a day.
As father and daughter entered the church the congregation again broke into applause.
During the marriage ceremony, local curate, Fr John Forbes describes the couple as being "strong in character, kind and gentle in their personality and very loving in the way they live."
"When we think of August last year we remember a lot of pain and suffering, but we also remember the gift of love the love of courage and family and friends, the love that was very much present then and the love that has made this moment very, very speical" he added.
As chaplain of the local unit of the Order of Malta, the priest recalled his first meeting with Donna Marie, a former cadet leader and member of the unit for nine years.
CHAPLAIN
Among the five priests who joined in the ceremony was the Belfast hospital chaplain who anointed the severely injured bride as she fought for survival in the crucial days following the blast.
Fr Pat Sheehan asked the congregation to specially remember the groom's young niece and godchild, Breda Devine, who died in the explosion. The youngster was to have been flower girl at last August's wedding.
During the hour-long ceremony, offertory gifts were borne to the altar by both sets of parents. A message of congratulations was also read from Irish President Mary McAleese.
As the couple emerged into the spring sunshine they were again applauded before setting off for a private reception accompanied by two police outriders sporting pink ribbons, matching the bridesmaids' colours, tied to their radio antennas.