OMAGH BOMB NURSE IS FORCED TO FLEE IRVINESTOWN EXPLOSION
Omagh bomb nurse forced to flee from Irvinestown explosion
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
Continuity IRA claim responsibility for hotel bomb
A NURSE who helped deal with the horrific casualties of the Omagh bomb, was amongst the many Tyrone people who were evacuated from Mahon's Hotel in Irvinestown on Sunday night just before the bomb exploded.
Teresa Killoran, who works in the Intensive Care department of the Tyrone County Hospital and who witnessed the carnage caused by the 1998 explosion, said she was filled with fear at the thought that there might be another 'Omagh'.
Teresa, who lives near Trillick, had gone to the hotel with her husband, Stephen and three children, Catriona (12), Clar (10) and Ciara (5), to have a meal.
They were just about to be served when Teresa said she noticed a policewoman coming in and speaking to some people near the bar.
Then the officer approached their table and asked them to leave, explaining that there was a bomb.
Teresa said she was scared for the safety of her children, and said she did not want to witness what happened during the Omagh bomb ever again.
It was cold and windy, so they went along with others to a nearby pub where they joined the staff from Mahon's.
Soon afterwards there was an explosion which Teresa said was more like a controlled explosion.
"One of the staff went outside and saw smoke and fire at the hotel. It was then that I realised this was for real. I then managed to phone my sister to come for us".
She said she was also horrified when she saw the bomb was at the back of the hotel, not just because her car was there, but the very fact that her family had walked in past the bomb.
Speaking to the Herald on Monday, Teresa said because of the traumatic incident, her children were unable to sleep that night and she was up most of the night with them.
She said she just keeps reliving what happened and realising just how lucky she was to escape.
Teresa was visiting her sister in Irvinestown on the day of the Omagh bomb, and like most nurses, when she heard the news, she went straight to the 'County'.
In her role as Intensive Care nurse, she worked without stopping tending to the injured and doing what she had been trained to do.
Afterwards, Teresa said she was lucky that she did not need counselling, although many of the other staff did.
She tried to get over the sights she witnessed and put it all behind her, and thought she had been doing okay, until Sunday evening at 7.20 pm when her family evening out brought all the memories flooding back.
Another family enjoying their meal in Mahon's Hotel on Sunday evening were Joe and Samantha Rafferty from Dromore and their 11 month old baby, Odhran.
They were just beginning to eat when Samantha noticed a waitress drop a tray of glasses. She said just at that a member of staff came out of the kitchen followed by the police and told them that there was a 'serious bomb alert'.
Samantha said she was scared, particularly for her baby and she ran out the door of the hotel. She said she kept thinking of the Omagh bomb and the wrong information about its location and the consequences. "All I wanted was to get Odhran and us out of there and away from Irvinestown," she added.
Samantha, who works in a quantity surveyors office in Omagh, said she and her husband had reached Dromore when they heard that the bomb had exploded.
"I feel we will never be able to go out again for a meal to a hotel. We have been going to Mahons Hotel every Sunday either for a drink or a meal," she explained.
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
Continuity IRA claim responsibility for hotel bomb
A NURSE who helped deal with the horrific casualties of the Omagh bomb, was amongst the many Tyrone people who were evacuated from Mahon's Hotel in Irvinestown on Sunday night just before the bomb exploded.
Teresa Killoran, who works in the Intensive Care department of the Tyrone County Hospital and who witnessed the carnage caused by the 1998 explosion, said she was filled with fear at the thought that there might be another 'Omagh'.
Teresa, who lives near Trillick, had gone to the hotel with her husband, Stephen and three children, Catriona (12), Clar (10) and Ciara (5), to have a meal.
They were just about to be served when Teresa said she noticed a policewoman coming in and speaking to some people near the bar.
Then the officer approached their table and asked them to leave, explaining that there was a bomb.
Teresa said she was scared for the safety of her children, and said she did not want to witness what happened during the Omagh bomb ever again.
It was cold and windy, so they went along with others to a nearby pub where they joined the staff from Mahon's.
Soon afterwards there was an explosion which Teresa said was more like a controlled explosion.
"One of the staff went outside and saw smoke and fire at the hotel. It was then that I realised this was for real. I then managed to phone my sister to come for us".
She said she was also horrified when she saw the bomb was at the back of the hotel, not just because her car was there, but the very fact that her family had walked in past the bomb.
Speaking to the Herald on Monday, Teresa said because of the traumatic incident, her children were unable to sleep that night and she was up most of the night with them.
She said she just keeps reliving what happened and realising just how lucky she was to escape.
Teresa was visiting her sister in Irvinestown on the day of the Omagh bomb, and like most nurses, when she heard the news, she went straight to the 'County'.
In her role as Intensive Care nurse, she worked without stopping tending to the injured and doing what she had been trained to do.
Afterwards, Teresa said she was lucky that she did not need counselling, although many of the other staff did.
She tried to get over the sights she witnessed and put it all behind her, and thought she had been doing okay, until Sunday evening at 7.20 pm when her family evening out brought all the memories flooding back.
Another family enjoying their meal in Mahon's Hotel on Sunday evening were Joe and Samantha Rafferty from Dromore and their 11 month old baby, Odhran.
They were just beginning to eat when Samantha noticed a waitress drop a tray of glasses. She said just at that a member of staff came out of the kitchen followed by the police and told them that there was a 'serious bomb alert'.
Samantha said she was scared, particularly for her baby and she ran out the door of the hotel. She said she kept thinking of the Omagh bomb and the wrong information about its location and the consequences. "All I wanted was to get Odhran and us out of there and away from Irvinestown," she added.
Samantha, who works in a quantity surveyors office in Omagh, said she and her husband had reached Dromore when they heard that the bomb had exploded.
"I feel we will never be able to go out again for a meal to a hotel. We have been going to Mahons Hotel every Sunday either for a drink or a meal," she explained.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1325
Published Date: 10-Feb-00
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