MOTHER OF THREE WAS STANDING AT DOOR OF HER SHOP WHEN BOMB WENT OFF
Mother of three was standing at door of her shop when bomb went off
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
MOTHER-of-three, Elizabeth Rush died as she stood in the doorway of her Market Street business premises where she had worked for 27 years.
Fifty-seven year old Elizabeth had been working in her Pine Emporium and she had gone to the door to look out at the crowd gathering outside the shop when the bomb exploded.
Elizabeth was married to Laurence Rush and they lived at Michael Street in Omagh. They have three children Siobhan, Anthony and Andrew. The Inquest heard how her name 'Libbi' has been given to a strain of daffodil which is being grown by a local flower grower.
The Inquest heard evidence from Audrey Irwin, Beragh, who stated that she had seen Mrs Rush standing at the entrance to the shop when she walked past. She said she had just entered Nicholls and Shiels when the bomb exploded.
Nicholas Craig of Lisanelly Heights said he was in the El Paso bar when the bomb exploded. He ran up the town and as he reached the Pine Emporium he saw the woman who he knew was Elizabeth Rush lying at the back of the shop some seven feet from the door. He said she was dead.
Hugh Slevin told the Inquest that he had known the deceased for over 20 years and that she was his friend. He said he formally identified her body at the temporary morgue.
Siobhan O'Neill, daughter of the deceased, said her mother had a coffee shop for many years in the town but five years ago made the transition to a gift shop which she called the Pine Emporium.
Siobhan who lives in Belfast, said she visits her family in Omagh each Saturday and on this occasion her son Malachy had been staying for the weekend with his grandparents.
She described her mother as a 'soft, gentle' woman who was a great listener and popular with so many people.
The Inquest heard from Dr Derek Carson who carried out a post mortem on Mrs Rush.
He said she had been facing the bomb and had multiple injuries which would have caused her immediate death.
Michael Mansfield, QC, who represented Laurence Rush read out a statement from the family which said "Libbi Rush took the full impact from this senseless and mindless atrocity, so callously carried out on an unsuspecting and vulnerable population.
"It has caused her family, and Laurence Rush in particular, enduring devastation and daily suffering.
"Despite such overwhelming anguish, Mr Rush has strengthened his resolve to continue his wife's commitment to the community,"' the statement concluded.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
MOTHER-of-three, Elizabeth Rush died as she stood in the doorway of her Market Street business premises where she had worked for 27 years.
Fifty-seven year old Elizabeth had been working in her Pine Emporium and she had gone to the door to look out at the crowd gathering outside the shop when the bomb exploded.
Elizabeth was married to Laurence Rush and they lived at Michael Street in Omagh. They have three children Siobhan, Anthony and Andrew. The Inquest heard how her name 'Libbi' has been given to a strain of daffodil which is being grown by a local flower grower.
The Inquest heard evidence from Audrey Irwin, Beragh, who stated that she had seen Mrs Rush standing at the entrance to the shop when she walked past. She said she had just entered Nicholls and Shiels when the bomb exploded.
Nicholas Craig of Lisanelly Heights said he was in the El Paso bar when the bomb exploded. He ran up the town and as he reached the Pine Emporium he saw the woman who he knew was Elizabeth Rush lying at the back of the shop some seven feet from the door. He said she was dead.
Hugh Slevin told the Inquest that he had known the deceased for over 20 years and that she was his friend. He said he formally identified her body at the temporary morgue.
Siobhan O'Neill, daughter of the deceased, said her mother had a coffee shop for many years in the town but five years ago made the transition to a gift shop which she called the Pine Emporium.
Siobhan who lives in Belfast, said she visits her family in Omagh each Saturday and on this occasion her son Malachy had been staying for the weekend with his grandparents.
She described her mother as a 'soft, gentle' woman who was a great listener and popular with so many people.
The Inquest heard from Dr Derek Carson who carried out a post mortem on Mrs Rush.
He said she had been facing the bomb and had multiple injuries which would have caused her immediate death.
Michael Mansfield, QC, who represented Laurence Rush read out a statement from the family which said "Libbi Rush took the full impact from this senseless and mindless atrocity, so callously carried out on an unsuspecting and vulnerable population.
"It has caused her family, and Laurence Rush in particular, enduring devastation and daily suffering.
"Despite such overwhelming anguish, Mr Rush has strengthened his resolve to continue his wife's commitment to the community,"' the statement concluded.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1465
Published Date: 21-Sep-00
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