BUNCRANA SCHOOL CHILDREN KILLED DURING EXCURSION
Buncrana schoolchildren killed during excursion
Friends died side by side while shopping
THE two young Buncrana school children killed in the Omagh bomb blast died within yards of each other, the Inquest into their deaths
heard.
Twelve-year-old Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty (8) both died from multiple injuries sustained in the explosion in Market Street on August 15, 1998,
The pair had been members of a group from the Donegal town who had travelled for a day out at the Ulster American Folk Park before going into Omagh to do some shopping. Two Spaniards who had travelled with the party - 12-year-old student Fernando Blasco Baselga and teacher Rocio Abad Ramos died in the blast. And schoolboy James Barker (12) was also fatally injured when he was caught up in the explosion.
Counsel for the Coroner, Gemma Loughran read a statement from bus driver, Liam McGonagle who gave details of picking up the party of 30 Spanish students, three leaders and 10 local schoolchildren in Buncrana at 10.15am. They arrived at the Folk Park at 11.35am and left around 2pm to travel into Omagh.
After parking his bus in Drumragh Car Park, he stayed in the bus while members of the group went into the town shopping.
A short time later, he heard police sirens and learned from children who had returned to the bus that there had been a bomb scare. He was standing on the steps of the bus when he heard a loud explosion and saw debris and smoke rise above the town. A large plank of wood flew into the air and he put his hand up to protect himself.
He noticed a red Volkswagen Golf drive erratically out of the car park and head towards the bomb scene.
After telephoning home and making sure the children in the bus were looked after, he went to Tyrone County Hospital where he saw some of the Spanish students in a hysterical state.
He then compiled a list of the children he could account for and those who were still missing. He later established that three of the Buncrana children and two of the Spanish party had died. He returned to Buncrana at 5am.
Since the explosion he had received counselling for the traumatic experience he had gone through and he still found difficulty talking about the incident.
In a statement, 11-year-old Emmet McLaughlin said he had gone on the day trip along with Shaun, Oran and James. When they arrived in Omagh at 2.30pm, they headed into town shopping. There was talk of a bomb scare and he began to get frightened.
As they headed towards Market Street, his three friends were a few yards in front of him.
"Suddenly there was a giant bang and when the things stopped falling everywhere I could see the people all around me were badly injured," he said.
Shane Colgan was at his home when he heard the blast. He immediately drove to Market Street to offer what assistance he could.
The dust was still settling and ambulances had not yet arrived on the scene. He came across a young boy lying face down outside Mr G's shop. He did not appear to be marked but was obviously dead. He later recognised him as Shaun McLaughlin.
Dr Khalil Amir was the surgical junior house doctor on duty at Tyrone County Hospital when the first of the casualties arrived. He gave evidence of attempting to resuscitate a child he later identified as Shaun.
The victim's father, John McLaughlin gave evidence of identifying his son's body the day after the bombing. He had heard of the explosion at 4pm on the Saturday afternoon but did not learn of his son's death until 7.30am the following morning.
State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane said the injuries sustained would have led to an immediate loss of consciousness and death would have been rapid.
In the inquest into the death of 8-year-old Oran Doherty, Coroner John Leckey heard how the child had died wearing his Aston Villa shirt.
Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Derek Carson explained that Oran's injuries were not as extensive as those sustained by other victims.
He believed the schoolboy's head injury could have been caused by him being thrown by the force of the blast. Again, death would have been rapid, he added.
The Coroner extended sympathy to both families adding that it was dreadful to think that a happy day out had turned into something so tragic.
Friends died side by side while shopping
THE two young Buncrana school children killed in the Omagh bomb blast died within yards of each other, the Inquest into their deaths
heard.
Twelve-year-old Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty (8) both died from multiple injuries sustained in the explosion in Market Street on August 15, 1998,
The pair had been members of a group from the Donegal town who had travelled for a day out at the Ulster American Folk Park before going into Omagh to do some shopping. Two Spaniards who had travelled with the party - 12-year-old student Fernando Blasco Baselga and teacher Rocio Abad Ramos died in the blast. And schoolboy James Barker (12) was also fatally injured when he was caught up in the explosion.
Counsel for the Coroner, Gemma Loughran read a statement from bus driver, Liam McGonagle who gave details of picking up the party of 30 Spanish students, three leaders and 10 local schoolchildren in Buncrana at 10.15am. They arrived at the Folk Park at 11.35am and left around 2pm to travel into Omagh.
After parking his bus in Drumragh Car Park, he stayed in the bus while members of the group went into the town shopping.
A short time later, he heard police sirens and learned from children who had returned to the bus that there had been a bomb scare. He was standing on the steps of the bus when he heard a loud explosion and saw debris and smoke rise above the town. A large plank of wood flew into the air and he put his hand up to protect himself.
He noticed a red Volkswagen Golf drive erratically out of the car park and head towards the bomb scene.
After telephoning home and making sure the children in the bus were looked after, he went to Tyrone County Hospital where he saw some of the Spanish students in a hysterical state.
He then compiled a list of the children he could account for and those who were still missing. He later established that three of the Buncrana children and two of the Spanish party had died. He returned to Buncrana at 5am.
Since the explosion he had received counselling for the traumatic experience he had gone through and he still found difficulty talking about the incident.
In a statement, 11-year-old Emmet McLaughlin said he had gone on the day trip along with Shaun, Oran and James. When they arrived in Omagh at 2.30pm, they headed into town shopping. There was talk of a bomb scare and he began to get frightened.
As they headed towards Market Street, his three friends were a few yards in front of him.
"Suddenly there was a giant bang and when the things stopped falling everywhere I could see the people all around me were badly injured," he said.
Shane Colgan was at his home when he heard the blast. He immediately drove to Market Street to offer what assistance he could.
The dust was still settling and ambulances had not yet arrived on the scene. He came across a young boy lying face down outside Mr G's shop. He did not appear to be marked but was obviously dead. He later recognised him as Shaun McLaughlin.
Dr Khalil Amir was the surgical junior house doctor on duty at Tyrone County Hospital when the first of the casualties arrived. He gave evidence of attempting to resuscitate a child he later identified as Shaun.
The victim's father, John McLaughlin gave evidence of identifying his son's body the day after the bombing. He had heard of the explosion at 4pm on the Saturday afternoon but did not learn of his son's death until 7.30am the following morning.
State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane said the injuries sustained would have led to an immediate loss of consciousness and death would have been rapid.
In the inquest into the death of 8-year-old Oran Doherty, Coroner John Leckey heard how the child had died wearing his Aston Villa shirt.
Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Derek Carson explained that Oran's injuries were not as extensive as those sustained by other victims.
He believed the schoolboy's head injury could have been caused by him being thrown by the force of the blast. Again, death would have been rapid, he added.
The Coroner extended sympathy to both families adding that it was dreadful to think that a happy day out had turned into something so tragic.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1478
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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