FAMILIES BESEECH THOSE SHELTERING THE BOMBERS TO GIVE THEM UP
Families beseech those sheltering the bombers to give them up
By JOHN McCUSKER
THE families of the two young Buncrana schoolboy victims have appealed to anyone sheltering the bombers not to harbour those responsible for 'such an evil act.'
Relatives of Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty appealed to anyone shielding the perpetrators to put themselves in the position of those who were bereaved.
Both families were united in their thanks to everyone who helped out during the aftermath of the tragedy. And they say it was their strong wish to attend this week's Inquests as part of their continued search for any new light or knowledge surrounding the last moments of their young sons' deaths.
The McLaughlin and Doherty families said: "While by their nature, Inquests are public, this quest for truth has been a deeply personal experience for both families and has included some deeply moving and yet heartbreaking encounters with individuals involved with their sons. This hopefully can help them as they continue to grieve. The precise details of these encounters and their impact are for them and them alone."
The families reiterated their thanks to those who cared for their sons in their absence the doctors, nurses, security personnel and civilians.
They continued: "The Inquest has reminded us all of the sheer scale of the horror and the awfulness of the circumstances all had to work in.
"Everyone involved truly deserves every honour possible. This kindness has been replicated during these Inquests and we are especially grateful to all concerned in the setting up of this Inquest, especially the police community liaison officers and trauma team personnel and other carers."
The families pointed out that, at the heart of the suffering was the unspeakable horror and evil they shared with other families. This was coupled with the frustration felt that the main perpetrators of the atrocity still took no responsibility for the terrible devastation they had caused.
They said they still hold out hope that one day, there could be justice, not just for them, but for all who had shared in tragedy throughout the Troubles.
It was a sad reflection that there were still people willing to shelter the perpetrators of such an evil act. And they appealed to anyone who knew anything: "What if it were your son or daughter, wife or granny that happened to be on the street that day. Would you still feel the same?"
"The story of that August day has been retold these last few weeks in a clinical and somewhat impassionate way during the Inquest and this has somehow brought into sharper relief the scale of it all.
"Two years on it still moves us to tears. Our families would have, on more than one occasion, expressed the wish that those responsible should have been here at the courtroom, to have seen and heard all that they have seen and heard. They would need to be made of stone not to have wondered, was our cause worth this?"
In the immediate aftermath of Omagh, many had said never again. But tragically there were currently real signs the fragile peace could break. For the people of the Shankill Road, it has already broken.
"The distorted thinking and blinkered approach to our differences that led to the tragedy of Omagh seems to still be there in the hearts of too many," they pointed out.
The families encouraged politicians to 'go the extra mile' for peace. They further urged people of all political persuasions to consider the horror they had to endure in the loss of their two young sons, along with thousands of others, and realise there were other ways of expressing political differences and aspirations.
"It does not have to be like this," the families added.
Having faced the truth of their sons' deaths, both families now returned to Buncrana carrying in their hearts more knowledge and the memory of encounters with people who had been in their place on the street and in the hospital.
Although the reality of their sons' deaths would never be far from their hearts, they would take up the baton again and continue as they had continued for the past two years.
Perhaps the knowledge gained would help them find comfort, they added. But like all who grieved, they would now need understanding, care and privacy to face the future.
By JOHN McCUSKER
THE families of the two young Buncrana schoolboy victims have appealed to anyone sheltering the bombers not to harbour those responsible for 'such an evil act.'
Relatives of Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty appealed to anyone shielding the perpetrators to put themselves in the position of those who were bereaved.
Both families were united in their thanks to everyone who helped out during the aftermath of the tragedy. And they say it was their strong wish to attend this week's Inquests as part of their continued search for any new light or knowledge surrounding the last moments of their young sons' deaths.
The McLaughlin and Doherty families said: "While by their nature, Inquests are public, this quest for truth has been a deeply personal experience for both families and has included some deeply moving and yet heartbreaking encounters with individuals involved with their sons. This hopefully can help them as they continue to grieve. The precise details of these encounters and their impact are for them and them alone."
The families reiterated their thanks to those who cared for their sons in their absence the doctors, nurses, security personnel and civilians.
They continued: "The Inquest has reminded us all of the sheer scale of the horror and the awfulness of the circumstances all had to work in.
"Everyone involved truly deserves every honour possible. This kindness has been replicated during these Inquests and we are especially grateful to all concerned in the setting up of this Inquest, especially the police community liaison officers and trauma team personnel and other carers."
The families pointed out that, at the heart of the suffering was the unspeakable horror and evil they shared with other families. This was coupled with the frustration felt that the main perpetrators of the atrocity still took no responsibility for the terrible devastation they had caused.
They said they still hold out hope that one day, there could be justice, not just for them, but for all who had shared in tragedy throughout the Troubles.
It was a sad reflection that there were still people willing to shelter the perpetrators of such an evil act. And they appealed to anyone who knew anything: "What if it were your son or daughter, wife or granny that happened to be on the street that day. Would you still feel the same?"
"The story of that August day has been retold these last few weeks in a clinical and somewhat impassionate way during the Inquest and this has somehow brought into sharper relief the scale of it all.
"Two years on it still moves us to tears. Our families would have, on more than one occasion, expressed the wish that those responsible should have been here at the courtroom, to have seen and heard all that they have seen and heard. They would need to be made of stone not to have wondered, was our cause worth this?"
In the immediate aftermath of Omagh, many had said never again. But tragically there were currently real signs the fragile peace could break. For the people of the Shankill Road, it has already broken.
"The distorted thinking and blinkered approach to our differences that led to the tragedy of Omagh seems to still be there in the hearts of too many," they pointed out.
The families encouraged politicians to 'go the extra mile' for peace. They further urged people of all political persuasions to consider the horror they had to endure in the loss of their two young sons, along with thousands of others, and realise there were other ways of expressing political differences and aspirations.
"It does not have to be like this," the families added.
Having faced the truth of their sons' deaths, both families now returned to Buncrana carrying in their hearts more knowledge and the memory of encounters with people who had been in their place on the street and in the hospital.
Although the reality of their sons' deaths would never be far from their hearts, they would take up the baton again and continue as they had continued for the past two years.
Perhaps the knowledge gained would help them find comfort, they added. But like all who grieved, they would now need understanding, care and privacy to face the future.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1479
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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