OMAGH FUND MAKING LARGE PAYOUT THIS WEEK
Omagh Fund Making large payout this week
BY: ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE Omagh Fund is in the middle of making its last large payout to the bereaved and injured in the bomb -bringing the new total payout to
�4.1 m.
This week has seen the Fund writing cheques to the value of �2.76m to those worst affected by the August 15th atrocity.
The Fund has already paid out �1.4 m since it was set up eleven months ago.
The fundraising which has been carried out since the setting up of the Fund, has seen money flooding in from all parts of the world as people responded generously to the plight of the Omagh bomb victims.
As the first anniversary approaches, the Fund is winding up its operation and plans to formally cease receiving donations from the 14th August.
The temporary home of the Fund will be closed and the staff returned to their regular jobs.
The Fund will retain a presence, more than likely in the form of the Trustees who will continue to receive monies which come in.
Brian Oliphant, Fund Manager, said it's not possible, nor would he want to insist that all monies should be in for the 14th August, because fundraising is not that straight forward.
The most recent payment of �2.76 m wipes the coffers clean at the Fund, and in fact according to Mr Oliphant, it leaves them 'in the red'. But they are confident that from pledges made, the money will be brought in shortly.
In the aftermath of the bomb and when donations came pouring in, it was deemed necessary to set up a formal arrangement to take care of all the monies coming in and distribute them in a fair manner.
The selecting of Fund trustees and appointing of a manager followed and the new and temporary home was Lisnamallard House at Old Mountfield Road.
UNENVIABLE
The Trustees knew they had an unenviable task ahead of them, but they embraced it with a gusto and a commitment which have retained to this day.
Since being set up, they have been hit with criticism ranging from not enough money being paid out to certain people, to people who were 'miles from Omagh when the bomb happened' being paid money.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Brian Oliphant said given the extent of the bereaved, the injured and those traumatised, it was a difficult task to assess how much money should be paid.
The Trustees were assisted by a medical panel who advised them on the various types of injuries.
He said they knew going into the Fund that there would be criticism, but he said they did the best they knew how.
He said the criticism has been evenly balanced with people equally praising the work they have done.
"We are confident that we acted in an honourable and fair way. We tried to be objective and at the same time sensitive. If we found anomalies we worked quickly to make them right".
Mr Oliphant said his secondment from his role as head of Environmental Health to the Omagh Fund, has been a big challenge for him.
BY: ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE Omagh Fund is in the middle of making its last large payout to the bereaved and injured in the bomb -bringing the new total payout to
�4.1 m.
This week has seen the Fund writing cheques to the value of �2.76m to those worst affected by the August 15th atrocity.
The Fund has already paid out �1.4 m since it was set up eleven months ago.
The fundraising which has been carried out since the setting up of the Fund, has seen money flooding in from all parts of the world as people responded generously to the plight of the Omagh bomb victims.
As the first anniversary approaches, the Fund is winding up its operation and plans to formally cease receiving donations from the 14th August.
The temporary home of the Fund will be closed and the staff returned to their regular jobs.
The Fund will retain a presence, more than likely in the form of the Trustees who will continue to receive monies which come in.
Brian Oliphant, Fund Manager, said it's not possible, nor would he want to insist that all monies should be in for the 14th August, because fundraising is not that straight forward.
The most recent payment of �2.76 m wipes the coffers clean at the Fund, and in fact according to Mr Oliphant, it leaves them 'in the red'. But they are confident that from pledges made, the money will be brought in shortly.
In the aftermath of the bomb and when donations came pouring in, it was deemed necessary to set up a formal arrangement to take care of all the monies coming in and distribute them in a fair manner.
The selecting of Fund trustees and appointing of a manager followed and the new and temporary home was Lisnamallard House at Old Mountfield Road.
UNENVIABLE
The Trustees knew they had an unenviable task ahead of them, but they embraced it with a gusto and a commitment which have retained to this day.
Since being set up, they have been hit with criticism ranging from not enough money being paid out to certain people, to people who were 'miles from Omagh when the bomb happened' being paid money.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Brian Oliphant said given the extent of the bereaved, the injured and those traumatised, it was a difficult task to assess how much money should be paid.
The Trustees were assisted by a medical panel who advised them on the various types of injuries.
He said they knew going into the Fund that there would be criticism, but he said they did the best they knew how.
He said the criticism has been evenly balanced with people equally praising the work they have done.
"We are confident that we acted in an honourable and fair way. We tried to be objective and at the same time sensitive. If we found anomalies we worked quickly to make them right".
Mr Oliphant said his secondment from his role as head of Environmental Health to the Omagh Fund, has been a big challenge for him.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1286
Published Date: 22-Jul-99
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