BOMB STOLE ALL LORRAINE'S HOPES AND DREAMS
Bomb cruelly stole away all Lorraine's hopes and dreams
FIFTEEN year old Lorraine Wilson had dreamt of becoming an air hostess before her life was cruelly taken away by the bombers, her Inquest heard.
The Omagh High School pupil, who worked part-time in the town's Oxfam shop, died alongside her friend Samantha McFarland when both were caught up in the explosion.
The Inquest into her death heard that she died from neck injuries sustained when she was struck by a piece of shrapnel.
Shop worker, Clive Catterson gave evidence of seeing Lorraine in Market Street prior to the blast. He then went into the Kozy Corner pub and had just paid for a drink when there was a massive bang. For a moment there was deadly silence and he recalled a strong smell of burning. He himself had been hit on the face and when he took his hand from his eye, he remembered blood splashing onto the floor.
At 2.55pm, Victoria Knox saw Lorraine and Samantha close to the scene of the explosion. She noticed that they had walked past a white car parked in Market Street.
Similar evidence was given by Sharon Corrigan who recalled spotting them at Forster Richardson Jewellers. The pair moved further down the street in front of police who had strung white tape across the road.
Soon after that Sharon heard an 'almighty bang.' It brought ringing to her ears and she saw black smoke rising.
Detective Inspector Colin Milford, of the RUC's Body Recovery and Identification Unit gave evidence of how the victim's father, Godfrey had identified her remains.
Mr Wilson told Coroner John Leckey his daughter had just completed her GCSEs and had hoped to become an air hostess or train as a chef.
A post mortem examination carried out on the Sunday evening by State Pathologist, Professor Jack Crane found death had been caused as a result of Lorraine being struck with a piece of shrapnel. The fatality would have been rapid and she had been pronounced dead at the scene. Even prompt medical assistance would not have saved her, he added.
The Coroner said the evidence given had painted a picture of two friends out together on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Tragically, however, they both died together.
These were teenagers with all their lives in front of them and plans already made for the future. Both had been 'on the threshold of new careers', but tragically that was not to be, added Mr Leckey.
Barrister Gerard Davey expressed the Wilson family's appreciation towards everyone who had given assistance at the scene of the explosion.
FIFTEEN year old Lorraine Wilson had dreamt of becoming an air hostess before her life was cruelly taken away by the bombers, her Inquest heard.
The Omagh High School pupil, who worked part-time in the town's Oxfam shop, died alongside her friend Samantha McFarland when both were caught up in the explosion.
The Inquest into her death heard that she died from neck injuries sustained when she was struck by a piece of shrapnel.
Shop worker, Clive Catterson gave evidence of seeing Lorraine in Market Street prior to the blast. He then went into the Kozy Corner pub and had just paid for a drink when there was a massive bang. For a moment there was deadly silence and he recalled a strong smell of burning. He himself had been hit on the face and when he took his hand from his eye, he remembered blood splashing onto the floor.
At 2.55pm, Victoria Knox saw Lorraine and Samantha close to the scene of the explosion. She noticed that they had walked past a white car parked in Market Street.
Similar evidence was given by Sharon Corrigan who recalled spotting them at Forster Richardson Jewellers. The pair moved further down the street in front of police who had strung white tape across the road.
Soon after that Sharon heard an 'almighty bang.' It brought ringing to her ears and she saw black smoke rising.
Detective Inspector Colin Milford, of the RUC's Body Recovery and Identification Unit gave evidence of how the victim's father, Godfrey had identified her remains.
Mr Wilson told Coroner John Leckey his daughter had just completed her GCSEs and had hoped to become an air hostess or train as a chef.
A post mortem examination carried out on the Sunday evening by State Pathologist, Professor Jack Crane found death had been caused as a result of Lorraine being struck with a piece of shrapnel. The fatality would have been rapid and she had been pronounced dead at the scene. Even prompt medical assistance would not have saved her, he added.
The Coroner said the evidence given had painted a picture of two friends out together on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Tragically, however, they both died together.
These were teenagers with all their lives in front of them and plans already made for the future. Both had been 'on the threshold of new careers', but tragically that was not to be, added Mr Leckey.
Barrister Gerard Davey expressed the Wilson family's appreciation towards everyone who had given assistance at the scene of the explosion.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1485
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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