INQUEST TO BEGIN HEARING DETAILED EVIDENCE ON HOW EACH BOMB VICTIM DIED
Inquest to begin hearing detailed evidence on how each bomb victim died
By JOHN McCUSKER
Pathologist to present harrowing details of injuries sustained by victims
FAMILIES of six of the Omagh bomb dead are today bracing themselves for further agony as the inquests focus on the deaths of individual victims of the atrocity.
Pathologist Dr Derek Carson is set to give evidence from this morning, outlining the extent of injuries and cause of death of those fatally injured in the blast.
And throughout the next seven days, Coroner John Leckey will be presented with detailed accounts of how the victims met their deaths.
During the past week, the inquests have heard harrowing accounts from police and civilian witnesses who arrived at the scene moments after the car bomb exploded, RUC officers who rushed to help the injured were confronted with horrific scenes with mutilated bodies scattered throughout the debris.
Photographs and video footage played before the court showed in graphic detail the full extent of the horror as rescuers dealt with the dead and dying.
Relatives who chose to watch the images in the courtroom wept and hugged each other as the videos were shown. Other family members opted to view the scenes in a private room.
Yesterday, a traffic warden broke down as she described how she was handed a baby whose body had been blackened with debris. In a voice quivering with emotion, Rosemary Ingram recounted how she cradled the child in the front seat of a car on the short journey to hospital.
The youngster appeared stiff and had an open wound on its cheek. Although its heart was beating strongly, the toddler later died. Mrs Ingram identified the baby as 21-month-old Breda Devine.
Minutes before the bomb exploded, Mrs Ingram was targeted by angry motorists who were annoyed at not being allowed up Market Street. "People simply would not obey the instructions I gave them. Some of them got angry at me," she recalled.
An Army doctor also gave evidence of finding the body of another baby, Maura Monaghan, lying beneath the remains of her mother, Avril who had been heavily pregnant with twins.
Captain Samuel Potter of the Royal Irish Regiment also gave details of pronouncing dead 20 bodies and one body part. These were removed from the scene and set out inside Market Street Arcade. When the alleyway was filled to capacity, further bodies draped in sheets and blankets were laid out in Moira's fashion shop further up the street.
The officer arrived at the scene around 3.30. Within the next 40 minutes he moved from body to body as he made his way along the street.
The last two remains he came across at Nicholl and Shiels corner were lying over each other in the shape of a crucifix.
He also recalled coming upon a teenage male victim. As he attempted to pick him up by the shoulders, the lower part of the boy's jaw fell away.
Although he gave positive identification of a number of the victims he pronounced dead at the scene, his recollections did not match those which appeared in court documentation. The doctor was therefore asked to liaise with police artists in an effort to collaborate evidence.
During the course of the inquiry, legal arguments developed between representatives of the families and lawyers acting for RUC officers involved in passing on bomb warnings and clearing the town centre.'
Michael Mansfield QC and local solicitor Barry Fox were reproached by RUC barrister Stephen Ritchie, for what he believed was unfair questioning of officers on duty that day.
Evidence from officers attending the scene is expected to be completed by early next week, with the men leading the inquiry, Detective Chief Superintendents Eric Anderson and Hamilton Houston due to appear before the hearing during the last week in September.
By JOHN McCUSKER
Pathologist to present harrowing details of injuries sustained by victims
FAMILIES of six of the Omagh bomb dead are today bracing themselves for further agony as the inquests focus on the deaths of individual victims of the atrocity.
Pathologist Dr Derek Carson is set to give evidence from this morning, outlining the extent of injuries and cause of death of those fatally injured in the blast.
And throughout the next seven days, Coroner John Leckey will be presented with detailed accounts of how the victims met their deaths.
During the past week, the inquests have heard harrowing accounts from police and civilian witnesses who arrived at the scene moments after the car bomb exploded, RUC officers who rushed to help the injured were confronted with horrific scenes with mutilated bodies scattered throughout the debris.
Photographs and video footage played before the court showed in graphic detail the full extent of the horror as rescuers dealt with the dead and dying.
Relatives who chose to watch the images in the courtroom wept and hugged each other as the videos were shown. Other family members opted to view the scenes in a private room.
Yesterday, a traffic warden broke down as she described how she was handed a baby whose body had been blackened with debris. In a voice quivering with emotion, Rosemary Ingram recounted how she cradled the child in the front seat of a car on the short journey to hospital.
The youngster appeared stiff and had an open wound on its cheek. Although its heart was beating strongly, the toddler later died. Mrs Ingram identified the baby as 21-month-old Breda Devine.
Minutes before the bomb exploded, Mrs Ingram was targeted by angry motorists who were annoyed at not being allowed up Market Street. "People simply would not obey the instructions I gave them. Some of them got angry at me," she recalled.
An Army doctor also gave evidence of finding the body of another baby, Maura Monaghan, lying beneath the remains of her mother, Avril who had been heavily pregnant with twins.
Captain Samuel Potter of the Royal Irish Regiment also gave details of pronouncing dead 20 bodies and one body part. These were removed from the scene and set out inside Market Street Arcade. When the alleyway was filled to capacity, further bodies draped in sheets and blankets were laid out in Moira's fashion shop further up the street.
The officer arrived at the scene around 3.30. Within the next 40 minutes he moved from body to body as he made his way along the street.
The last two remains he came across at Nicholl and Shiels corner were lying over each other in the shape of a crucifix.
He also recalled coming upon a teenage male victim. As he attempted to pick him up by the shoulders, the lower part of the boy's jaw fell away.
Although he gave positive identification of a number of the victims he pronounced dead at the scene, his recollections did not match those which appeared in court documentation. The doctor was therefore asked to liaise with police artists in an effort to collaborate evidence.
During the course of the inquiry, legal arguments developed between representatives of the families and lawyers acting for RUC officers involved in passing on bomb warnings and clearing the town centre.'
Michael Mansfield QC and local solicitor Barry Fox were reproached by RUC barrister Stephen Ritchie, for what he believed was unfair questioning of officers on duty that day.
Evidence from officers attending the scene is expected to be completed by early next week, with the men leading the inquiry, Detective Chief Superintendents Eric Anderson and Hamilton Houston due to appear before the hearing during the last week in September.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1440
Published Date: 14-Sep-00
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