VIDEOS CAPTURE HORRIFIC SCENES MINUTES AFTER EXPLOSION
Videos capture horrific scenes minutes after explosion
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
A DRAMATIC call for the amateur footage of the Omagh bomb to be shown around the world was made during the second day of the Inquest.
The call was made by Michael Gallagher, after he and other relatives of victims of the bomb - which caused mass murder and destruction in its aftermath - viewed the gruesome footage in private in the specially convened Family Room.
Mr Gallagher, who son Adrian (21) was killed told a press conference afterwards that the tapes should be shown across the world to expose the full horrors of Omagh.
It proved an upsetting ordeal for relatives and members of the public who watched in horror as events of that terrible day unfolded before their eyes. None was more shocking than the showing of some footage never viewed before and which was taken in the aftermath of the explosion.
The videos of the post explosion scene, showed the full extent of the terrible carnage and devastation - within minutes of the bomb going off.
Jarring images of dead and wounded amid smoke, dust and rubble of the immediate aftermath were shown. The sound of business alarms were triggered as the injured lay whimpering on the street.
One of the tapes taken by an Australian had never been seen in public before. His emotion filled voice could be heard again and again; "I can't f****** believe what I am seeing here."
A number of relatives left the room before the footage was broadcast on an overhead screen erected in the Coroner's Court at Omagh Leisure Centre.
Coroner John Leckey said he thought it was important that the video was shown. Realising that the scenes could be distressing for relatives, he told them they could leave if they so wished before the broadcast.
He said some of the clips from the footage had being shown on the television but "we are going to see all of them in their entirety."
Most families and relatives immediately departed from the room preferring either to view the videos in the specially erected "Family Room" or refrain from what for many was too harrowing an experience.
Those who watched the videos, away from the public glare of a packed Coroner's Court, knew they could seek solace and comfort from other relatives, similarly affected by the bomb.
Those people who remained in the courtroom watched in silence and disbelief as scenes of that harrowing afternoon were painfully relived on the big screen.
A priest gave comfort to one family, embracing them with outstretched arms as he sat behind them, as the first of three amateur videos was
shown.
Among the distressing sounds was the harrowing cries for help from the injured people as mass confusion broke out in the street. The disgusted voice of a male cameraman could be heard over the pandemonium, "Terrible that and them in doing their shopping."
The same video also shows frantic searches taking place in the rubble covered street and people lying injured on the footpath.
Another video captures the burst water mains scene and shows the extent of the destruction. The burst pipe sent water forcibly down the street hampering emergency operations.
It also contains distressing footage as ambulances arrive at the scene. The Australian camera man cries "You would not believe what has happened ...A F****** Bomb" can be frantically heard above the noise of the turmoil.
An injured female cries out: "Somebody help me" and voice from the cameraman cries: "This is just unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it in my f****** life "
Distressing scenes of injured people, blood flowing from their wounds, being carried to awaiting ambulances. The atmosphere, still brutally polluted from the explosion, also shows injured people wandering about in total confusion as if in a daze.
Many of the scenes shown to the inquest were horrendous but did give a unique insight into the fatal capabilities of a bomb, both to people and to surrounding property.
The trail of destruction and the horrible aftermath were captured on video by three amateurs. They withdrew themselves from the horror which was unfolding to take the valuable footage.
The Coroner heard that all videos subsequently had come into the possession of police. He sat firm faced as the tapes were played and later spoke of the devastation evident from the footage.
A fourth video, provided by the RUC, showed footage of the local route which police suspect the bombers used to bring the bomb in to the town from the direction of thre swinging bars roundabout.
The Coroner later adjourned the inquest for an extended lunch break for the benefit of those who had watched "the dreadful scenes".
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
A DRAMATIC call for the amateur footage of the Omagh bomb to be shown around the world was made during the second day of the Inquest.
The call was made by Michael Gallagher, after he and other relatives of victims of the bomb - which caused mass murder and destruction in its aftermath - viewed the gruesome footage in private in the specially convened Family Room.
Mr Gallagher, who son Adrian (21) was killed told a press conference afterwards that the tapes should be shown across the world to expose the full horrors of Omagh.
It proved an upsetting ordeal for relatives and members of the public who watched in horror as events of that terrible day unfolded before their eyes. None was more shocking than the showing of some footage never viewed before and which was taken in the aftermath of the explosion.
The videos of the post explosion scene, showed the full extent of the terrible carnage and devastation - within minutes of the bomb going off.
Jarring images of dead and wounded amid smoke, dust and rubble of the immediate aftermath were shown. The sound of business alarms were triggered as the injured lay whimpering on the street.
One of the tapes taken by an Australian had never been seen in public before. His emotion filled voice could be heard again and again; "I can't f****** believe what I am seeing here."
A number of relatives left the room before the footage was broadcast on an overhead screen erected in the Coroner's Court at Omagh Leisure Centre.
Coroner John Leckey said he thought it was important that the video was shown. Realising that the scenes could be distressing for relatives, he told them they could leave if they so wished before the broadcast.
He said some of the clips from the footage had being shown on the television but "we are going to see all of them in their entirety."
Most families and relatives immediately departed from the room preferring either to view the videos in the specially erected "Family Room" or refrain from what for many was too harrowing an experience.
Those who watched the videos, away from the public glare of a packed Coroner's Court, knew they could seek solace and comfort from other relatives, similarly affected by the bomb.
Those people who remained in the courtroom watched in silence and disbelief as scenes of that harrowing afternoon were painfully relived on the big screen.
A priest gave comfort to one family, embracing them with outstretched arms as he sat behind them, as the first of three amateur videos was
shown.
Among the distressing sounds was the harrowing cries for help from the injured people as mass confusion broke out in the street. The disgusted voice of a male cameraman could be heard over the pandemonium, "Terrible that and them in doing their shopping."
The same video also shows frantic searches taking place in the rubble covered street and people lying injured on the footpath.
Another video captures the burst water mains scene and shows the extent of the destruction. The burst pipe sent water forcibly down the street hampering emergency operations.
It also contains distressing footage as ambulances arrive at the scene. The Australian camera man cries "You would not believe what has happened ...A F****** Bomb" can be frantically heard above the noise of the turmoil.
An injured female cries out: "Somebody help me" and voice from the cameraman cries: "This is just unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it in my f****** life "
Distressing scenes of injured people, blood flowing from their wounds, being carried to awaiting ambulances. The atmosphere, still brutally polluted from the explosion, also shows injured people wandering about in total confusion as if in a daze.
Many of the scenes shown to the inquest were horrendous but did give a unique insight into the fatal capabilities of a bomb, both to people and to surrounding property.
The trail of destruction and the horrible aftermath were captured on video by three amateurs. They withdrew themselves from the horror which was unfolding to take the valuable footage.
The Coroner heard that all videos subsequently had come into the possession of police. He sat firm faced as the tapes were played and later spoke of the devastation evident from the footage.
A fourth video, provided by the RUC, showed footage of the local route which police suspect the bombers used to bring the bomb in to the town from the direction of thre swinging bars roundabout.
The Coroner later adjourned the inquest for an extended lunch break for the benefit of those who had watched "the dreadful scenes".
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1450
Published Date: 14-Sep-00
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.