INJURED POLICEMAN DECLINED FIRST AID IN ORDER TO HELP VICTIMS
Injured policeman declined first-aid in order to help victims
HEROIC efforts by a seriously injured police officer, who shunned first aid while he continued helping the many other bomb victims, were publicly praised by relatives, following Monday's sitting of the inquest.
During that harrowing day, relatives also heard about the final dying moments of some of their loved ones. Other officers spoke of the shock they felt when they realised the bomb had exploded where police had been moving people to during the ill-fated evacuation process.
The inquest heard how Constable Alan Palmer, who subsequently received over 20 stitches to his back, soldiered on in a bid to save lives.
Michael Gallagher, speaking at the press conference which followed said the "most significant evidence he had heard that day" was how the injured constable had continued to help others despite his own injuries.
He also pointed out the Constable had again given up his place for help after transporting injured people to Enniskillen.
Mr Gallagher's son Adrian was killed in the bomb.
Both he and Stanley McCombe the only family members to attend Monday's briefing, said it was "traumatic" waiting to see if their lost relatives would be named during the evidence.
Mr McCombe lost his wife, Ann, in the atrocity.
"It was very draining because you never knew when someone was going to mention your loved one's name. It was very, very difficult," he said.
Both men also found the photographic evidence to be extremely distressing.
Back at the inquest, details of how a son pleaded with a doctor to "try again" after his mother was confirmed dead were revealed by another officer.
Constable Palmer, the officer who was commended by relatives, was still holding the security tape when the bomb went off . He said he felt a sharp pain in his back but remained standing. He moved down to where the actual bomb had exploded and saw a car and body on fire in the middle of the street. He obtained a fire extinguisher and tried to save the person who was on fire. He also give assistance to other people at the scene described their injuries as serious. He tried to re-assure the injured that they would be alright including a woman, he comforted, with severe head injuries. "She looked dead or was dying. There was nothing I could do for her," he said.
With no room at the Omagh hospital for any more casualties the decision was taken to transfer the injured to Enniskillen.
Another constable, PC Robert Walker later described the episode at the hospital which became overpowered by the scale of the disaster.
His statement told how he encountered Veda Short in a car in the hospital car park in the ripped remains of a curtain, a leg missing above the knee and hardly any clothes left. Police accompanied her son in bringing Mrs Short into the building where she was examined by a doctor.
"The doctor failed to get any pulse and stated that Mrs Short was dead. Her son began to cry uncontrollably and begged the doctor to try again."
The doctor declined and went to help other people, added the statement.
Earlier frantic searches had taken place at the bomb scene after an empty child's buggy was found.
A number of other officers also gave graphic accounts of how they dealt with the unfolding crisis.
HEROIC efforts by a seriously injured police officer, who shunned first aid while he continued helping the many other bomb victims, were publicly praised by relatives, following Monday's sitting of the inquest.
During that harrowing day, relatives also heard about the final dying moments of some of their loved ones. Other officers spoke of the shock they felt when they realised the bomb had exploded where police had been moving people to during the ill-fated evacuation process.
The inquest heard how Constable Alan Palmer, who subsequently received over 20 stitches to his back, soldiered on in a bid to save lives.
Michael Gallagher, speaking at the press conference which followed said the "most significant evidence he had heard that day" was how the injured constable had continued to help others despite his own injuries.
He also pointed out the Constable had again given up his place for help after transporting injured people to Enniskillen.
Mr Gallagher's son Adrian was killed in the bomb.
Both he and Stanley McCombe the only family members to attend Monday's briefing, said it was "traumatic" waiting to see if their lost relatives would be named during the evidence.
Mr McCombe lost his wife, Ann, in the atrocity.
"It was very draining because you never knew when someone was going to mention your loved one's name. It was very, very difficult," he said.
Both men also found the photographic evidence to be extremely distressing.
Back at the inquest, details of how a son pleaded with a doctor to "try again" after his mother was confirmed dead were revealed by another officer.
Constable Palmer, the officer who was commended by relatives, was still holding the security tape when the bomb went off . He said he felt a sharp pain in his back but remained standing. He moved down to where the actual bomb had exploded and saw a car and body on fire in the middle of the street. He obtained a fire extinguisher and tried to save the person who was on fire. He also give assistance to other people at the scene described their injuries as serious. He tried to re-assure the injured that they would be alright including a woman, he comforted, with severe head injuries. "She looked dead or was dying. There was nothing I could do for her," he said.
With no room at the Omagh hospital for any more casualties the decision was taken to transfer the injured to Enniskillen.
Another constable, PC Robert Walker later described the episode at the hospital which became overpowered by the scale of the disaster.
His statement told how he encountered Veda Short in a car in the hospital car park in the ripped remains of a curtain, a leg missing above the knee and hardly any clothes left. Police accompanied her son in bringing Mrs Short into the building where she was examined by a doctor.
"The doctor failed to get any pulse and stated that Mrs Short was dead. Her son began to cry uncontrollably and begged the doctor to try again."
The doctor declined and went to help other people, added the statement.
Earlier frantic searches had taken place at the bomb scene after an empty child's buggy was found.
A number of other officers also gave graphic accounts of how they dealt with the unfolding crisis.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1444
Published Date: 14-Sep-00
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