CORONER HEARS HOW WORKMATES DIED TOGETHER
Coroner hears how workmates died together
A 48 year old mother thought she was escaping to the relative safety of Market Street as like everyone else in the town on that fateful day - she believed the bomb was in the courthouse area of the Omagh.
Instead, Ann McCombe died along with her two work colleagues from Watterson's shop, who were standing beside her.
Ann lived at Summerhill Park in Omagh with her husband Stanley and two sons aged Colin (18) and Clive (22).
Stanley told the Inquest that his wife came originally from Ballindrait, Co Donegal and that they had been married for 25 years.
Madeline McElhatton, who worked in High street, Omagh told how police had brought word of a bomb scare 'somewhere near the courthouse' and she and others were moved down Market Street and stood waiting near Sharkey's newsagents.
While waiting she saw several people she knew including Veda Short and Ann McCombe. The bomb then exploded.
Dr Derek Carson, said Ann McCombe died as a result of multiple injuries caused by the bomb. He said she would have been close to the seat of the explosion and therefore her death would have been immediate.
Coroner, John Leckey referred to the lottery of life which was apparent in this atrocity, where some died yet someone close by lived. He extended his 'deepest sympathy' to the McCombe family.
A 48 year old mother thought she was escaping to the relative safety of Market Street as like everyone else in the town on that fateful day - she believed the bomb was in the courthouse area of the Omagh.
Instead, Ann McCombe died along with her two work colleagues from Watterson's shop, who were standing beside her.
Ann lived at Summerhill Park in Omagh with her husband Stanley and two sons aged Colin (18) and Clive (22).
Stanley told the Inquest that his wife came originally from Ballindrait, Co Donegal and that they had been married for 25 years.
Madeline McElhatton, who worked in High street, Omagh told how police had brought word of a bomb scare 'somewhere near the courthouse' and she and others were moved down Market Street and stood waiting near Sharkey's newsagents.
While waiting she saw several people she knew including Veda Short and Ann McCombe. The bomb then exploded.
Dr Derek Carson, said Ann McCombe died as a result of multiple injuries caused by the bomb. He said she would have been close to the seat of the explosion and therefore her death would have been immediate.
Coroner, John Leckey referred to the lottery of life which was apparent in this atrocity, where some died yet someone close by lived. He extended his 'deepest sympathy' to the McCombe family.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1462
Published Date: 21-Sep-00
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