TRIBUTE TO CIVILIAN WHO TRIED TO HELP VICTIMS
Tribute to civilian who tried to help victims
ByJACQUELINECOURTNEY
AN employee from Boots Chemist was told by the Coroner that the people of Omagh owe him a great debt of gratitude for his assistance after the bomb.
Robert Bonar, who played a vital role in the aftermath of the explosion, was commended for his actions, by coroner Mr Leckey as details of his harrowing evidence unfolded.
Mr Bonar, a first-aider, administered what help he could and checked bodies for signs of life in buildings still on fire and vulnerable to further danger.
Mr Bonar said he had confronted a "scene of devastation".
He emotionally recalled seeing one young girl, no older than 15 years, sitting on the pavement amid dirt and rubble holding the hand of another young girl who was already dead.
"She did not know this girl and I asked her what she was doing. She replied "I am just holding her hand I don't want her to be alone," said the witness.
The inquest heard that buildings in the immediate area were in structural danger but Mr Bonar continued to search shops as part of a team looking for the injured and the dead.
With his electrical experience he disconnected power to a number of shops an action for which he was also commended by the coroner.
Mr Bonar told the inquest how he earlier had learnt of the bomb scare which police were taking seriously.
He helped in closing the shop and pulling the shutters down. Approximately ten minutes later he heard a 'loud explosion" and his immediate thoughts were, this is at the bottom end of the town and not the Courthouse".
He could hear the shouts and screams of people and outside the shop met a few of the walking wounded, returning to their cars.
One of the injured men told him "It was hell down there."
Police were looking for first-aiders so he went down to be "greeted with a scene of devastation"
He told of seeing a lot of bodies lying around about eight to ten and administered first aid to the injured as he made his way down the street. Among the horrific scenes he encountered was badly mutilated bodies covered in debris and rubble.
He said he had no way of identifying the bodies and was only checking them for signs of life.
He recalled police being "swamped with bodies" and he later paid tribute to the police handling of the situation.
He said the duty of a police inspector and two sergeants had been above and beyond the call of duty. He also commended the army doctor, the ambulance crew and the fire brigade who did "their utmost to ensure that all buildings were searched".
After his evidence concluded, coroner Mr Leckey said the people of Omagh owed him a great debt of gratitude.
"May I thank you the public spiritedness you showed that day," said the coroner. He also commended him for his dealing with the added electrical hazard.
ByJACQUELINECOURTNEY
AN employee from Boots Chemist was told by the Coroner that the people of Omagh owe him a great debt of gratitude for his assistance after the bomb.
Robert Bonar, who played a vital role in the aftermath of the explosion, was commended for his actions, by coroner Mr Leckey as details of his harrowing evidence unfolded.
Mr Bonar, a first-aider, administered what help he could and checked bodies for signs of life in buildings still on fire and vulnerable to further danger.
Mr Bonar said he had confronted a "scene of devastation".
He emotionally recalled seeing one young girl, no older than 15 years, sitting on the pavement amid dirt and rubble holding the hand of another young girl who was already dead.
"She did not know this girl and I asked her what she was doing. She replied "I am just holding her hand I don't want her to be alone," said the witness.
The inquest heard that buildings in the immediate area were in structural danger but Mr Bonar continued to search shops as part of a team looking for the injured and the dead.
With his electrical experience he disconnected power to a number of shops an action for which he was also commended by the coroner.
Mr Bonar told the inquest how he earlier had learnt of the bomb scare which police were taking seriously.
He helped in closing the shop and pulling the shutters down. Approximately ten minutes later he heard a 'loud explosion" and his immediate thoughts were, this is at the bottom end of the town and not the Courthouse".
He could hear the shouts and screams of people and outside the shop met a few of the walking wounded, returning to their cars.
One of the injured men told him "It was hell down there."
Police were looking for first-aiders so he went down to be "greeted with a scene of devastation"
He told of seeing a lot of bodies lying around about eight to ten and administered first aid to the injured as he made his way down the street. Among the horrific scenes he encountered was badly mutilated bodies covered in debris and rubble.
He said he had no way of identifying the bodies and was only checking them for signs of life.
He recalled police being "swamped with bodies" and he later paid tribute to the police handling of the situation.
He said the duty of a police inspector and two sergeants had been above and beyond the call of duty. He also commended the army doctor, the ambulance crew and the fire brigade who did "their utmost to ensure that all buildings were searched".
After his evidence concluded, coroner Mr Leckey said the people of Omagh owed him a great debt of gratitude.
"May I thank you the public spiritedness you showed that day," said the coroner. He also commended him for his dealing with the added electrical hazard.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1459
Published Date: 21-Sep-00
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