LAWERENCE RUSH ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY
My mind tells me that I want the wake to finish but the memory not to be forgotten.
As the first anniversary of the Omagh Bomb approaches Lawrence Rushe captures the intense grieving still felt by so many at this time.
August 15th, a date which will be etched in the memory of all the people of Omagh, man, woman, and child.
At no time have we got a parallel, no scar, no war, no ramparts, no song, or pain of memory, can equal this horror, this desecration of human life of God's creations. He made these mortals in his image.
Did the innocent taken so brutally on that fateful day believe in the Good Friday Agreement. No-one but the evil and perverted, could have chosen 31 of the most innocent kindly serene persons, my beloved Libby, being one. Good people, who have said to me in all innocence that they missed it. Great men and older women in their prime, and the younger ready to step into a fuller life, children enjoying their innocence, people of all religions, people of different nationalities.
Then the unimaginable horror.
My mind tells me that I want the wake to finish, but the memory not to be forgotten, man's inhumanity to man, what political agenda, how dare they represent a nationalist viewpoint, how dare they call themselves human beings, how impertinent of them to think, and I speak for myself, even contemplate that an Ireland built on the foundations of babies and built on the lonely hearts of innocent men and women, do they really think that this would be acceptable to God, never mind the people. How then could this ever enter nation hood. Only a country that cares for the old and sick nurture and educate its young, feed its hungry and advocate the pursuits of happiness, only it can elevate itself into nationhood.
We unfortunately are a long way off this ideal and whatever the situation, regional, provincial or national, a fair and just by argument and debate, peace must prevail democracy is about embracing a view dissident decommissioned, is immaterial, as guns which in actual fact have killed less people than bombs. Weapons do not kill people. People kill people.
The problem in handling guns smells of surrender, that is what has to be taken out of the discussion, although the Protestant paramilitaries with a small does not fight for Britain, but for Queen and country, as does the British Army. Handing in of the arms does not have the same significance.
The IRA opposed Britain and its occupation of Northern Ireland. Therefore the handing over of one weapon constitutes surrender. That is why no mention of numbers is considered one will do? Anything else is immaterial. So could we consider another approach? Simple as it may seem, is it possible that a ceremonial hand over of weapons, one nominal rifle will do, of equal velocity and calibre, these weapons to be handed over publicly and simultaneously as an act of faith and mutual trust and agreement, in a face-saving ceremony while peace talks continue, while peace is achieved.
If talks are successful then both parties agree to dump inspections.
The only stipulation is that before any of this would happen, that the bodies of the missing be returned to the distraught and bereaved without conditions, the hostage of these poor injured and deceased bodies be given a Christian burial like all God's children are entitled. Even the most noble savage gives time to bury the dead, it is the courtesy allowed, the most human right with final dignity and decency.
The request is by the mothers who I have had the privilege to meet in my own home.
In Omagh we have not finished and at this point, I must admire and gratefully thank all those people who have given me such love and support.
To say I am grateful is an understatement, time to speak to me regardless of the busy day in hand, no matter what they are doing, or where they are, they don't mind that little hug or secret squeeze of the hand helps. The men with a wink and a nod say it all.
ABROAD
Thanks to the people here and abroad, who wrote our mandate, and support, that being 70,000 in this area.
It is when I see the children, my mind goes back to the hospital we must save.
This is their hospital we must save. This is their rightful inheritance. I accept that improvements have to be made, as I am a realist, but no matter how many casualties there are, or how many few babies are born, in maternity, the new method is the time schedule birth wards. The method is not to ease the mothers discomfort or to save lives, it would be interesting to know the statistics of live/dead births.
It is not the service that counts, but the quality of care and consideration, not to induce births, or unnecessary or live abortions, which, if done without permission, is illegal and you can get a solicitor to see your baby is born and not forced before its time, and hospitals to allow fathers to see their baby, grandmothers and grandfathers to coo over their grandchildren. The question is, why did they move our service 40/60 miles away.
Love and reassurance is 90 per cent of the healing process. Difficult births and complications and the death of mother and child. This is not histrionics. This is fact, every parent knows that delay in even a cut, can cause serious blood loss and infections. Child birth is perfectly natural. Delay in travelling and hospitalisation in serious cases, can be detrimental.
In actual fact you can insist that you do not wish to have your baby, or insist your baby is born anywhere, including your local hospital. It is your civil right. Talk to your doctor and he will be glad to help you.
It is said that we do are allowing our hospital with all its fine work, and it is fine hospital, and fine staff, and the heroic work done by the staff during the tragedy, they could hot help my poor lively wife, but had they been able to, they would have done anything to giver her back to me.
It is not out of grief that I support my hospital, but out of thanks for those that they did save. This may be a selfish thought, but could we have saved more if we had the upgraded hospital that Omagh, no, Tyrone, the second largest county, a hospital for 230 years, and officially 100 years on March this year.
How many people were invited to that? After all, we own it, paid for by our grandparents, parents and ourselves.
Or we were they embarrassed at how they have given away, courtesy of our elected representatives, other than McLaughlin, Gormley and Pat McDonald. The Omagh Council has colluded in this debate of the removal of Maternity and Paediatrics.
We will see that they are returned and that when in the future you vote, look at the candidates and not the party, but after thirty years of mayhem, the politicians have been unaccountable. Maybe they will get a change of heart after the forthcoming elections.
As the first anniversary of the Omagh Bomb approaches Lawrence Rushe captures the intense grieving still felt by so many at this time.
August 15th, a date which will be etched in the memory of all the people of Omagh, man, woman, and child.
At no time have we got a parallel, no scar, no war, no ramparts, no song, or pain of memory, can equal this horror, this desecration of human life of God's creations. He made these mortals in his image.
Did the innocent taken so brutally on that fateful day believe in the Good Friday Agreement. No-one but the evil and perverted, could have chosen 31 of the most innocent kindly serene persons, my beloved Libby, being one. Good people, who have said to me in all innocence that they missed it. Great men and older women in their prime, and the younger ready to step into a fuller life, children enjoying their innocence, people of all religions, people of different nationalities.
Then the unimaginable horror.
My mind tells me that I want the wake to finish, but the memory not to be forgotten, man's inhumanity to man, what political agenda, how dare they represent a nationalist viewpoint, how dare they call themselves human beings, how impertinent of them to think, and I speak for myself, even contemplate that an Ireland built on the foundations of babies and built on the lonely hearts of innocent men and women, do they really think that this would be acceptable to God, never mind the people. How then could this ever enter nation hood. Only a country that cares for the old and sick nurture and educate its young, feed its hungry and advocate the pursuits of happiness, only it can elevate itself into nationhood.
We unfortunately are a long way off this ideal and whatever the situation, regional, provincial or national, a fair and just by argument and debate, peace must prevail democracy is about embracing a view dissident decommissioned, is immaterial, as guns which in actual fact have killed less people than bombs. Weapons do not kill people. People kill people.
The problem in handling guns smells of surrender, that is what has to be taken out of the discussion, although the Protestant paramilitaries with a small does not fight for Britain, but for Queen and country, as does the British Army. Handing in of the arms does not have the same significance.
The IRA opposed Britain and its occupation of Northern Ireland. Therefore the handing over of one weapon constitutes surrender. That is why no mention of numbers is considered one will do? Anything else is immaterial. So could we consider another approach? Simple as it may seem, is it possible that a ceremonial hand over of weapons, one nominal rifle will do, of equal velocity and calibre, these weapons to be handed over publicly and simultaneously as an act of faith and mutual trust and agreement, in a face-saving ceremony while peace talks continue, while peace is achieved.
If talks are successful then both parties agree to dump inspections.
The only stipulation is that before any of this would happen, that the bodies of the missing be returned to the distraught and bereaved without conditions, the hostage of these poor injured and deceased bodies be given a Christian burial like all God's children are entitled. Even the most noble savage gives time to bury the dead, it is the courtesy allowed, the most human right with final dignity and decency.
The request is by the mothers who I have had the privilege to meet in my own home.
In Omagh we have not finished and at this point, I must admire and gratefully thank all those people who have given me such love and support.
To say I am grateful is an understatement, time to speak to me regardless of the busy day in hand, no matter what they are doing, or where they are, they don't mind that little hug or secret squeeze of the hand helps. The men with a wink and a nod say it all.
ABROAD
Thanks to the people here and abroad, who wrote our mandate, and support, that being 70,000 in this area.
It is when I see the children, my mind goes back to the hospital we must save.
This is their hospital we must save. This is their rightful inheritance. I accept that improvements have to be made, as I am a realist, but no matter how many casualties there are, or how many few babies are born, in maternity, the new method is the time schedule birth wards. The method is not to ease the mothers discomfort or to save lives, it would be interesting to know the statistics of live/dead births.
It is not the service that counts, but the quality of care and consideration, not to induce births, or unnecessary or live abortions, which, if done without permission, is illegal and you can get a solicitor to see your baby is born and not forced before its time, and hospitals to allow fathers to see their baby, grandmothers and grandfathers to coo over their grandchildren. The question is, why did they move our service 40/60 miles away.
Love and reassurance is 90 per cent of the healing process. Difficult births and complications and the death of mother and child. This is not histrionics. This is fact, every parent knows that delay in even a cut, can cause serious blood loss and infections. Child birth is perfectly natural. Delay in travelling and hospitalisation in serious cases, can be detrimental.
In actual fact you can insist that you do not wish to have your baby, or insist your baby is born anywhere, including your local hospital. It is your civil right. Talk to your doctor and he will be glad to help you.
It is said that we do are allowing our hospital with all its fine work, and it is fine hospital, and fine staff, and the heroic work done by the staff during the tragedy, they could hot help my poor lively wife, but had they been able to, they would have done anything to giver her back to me.
It is not out of grief that I support my hospital, but out of thanks for those that they did save. This may be a selfish thought, but could we have saved more if we had the upgraded hospital that Omagh, no, Tyrone, the second largest county, a hospital for 230 years, and officially 100 years on March this year.
How many people were invited to that? After all, we own it, paid for by our grandparents, parents and ourselves.
Or we were they embarrassed at how they have given away, courtesy of our elected representatives, other than McLaughlin, Gormley and Pat McDonald. The Omagh Council has colluded in this debate of the removal of Maternity and Paediatrics.
We will see that they are returned and that when in the future you vote, look at the candidates and not the party, but after thirty years of mayhem, the politicians have been unaccountable. Maybe they will get a change of heart after the forthcoming elections.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1289
Published Date: 29-Jul-99
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