HAWKES FAMILY CRITICISE QUESTIONING OF POLICE
Hawkes family criticise questioning of police
THE FAMILY of Olive Hawkes, killed in the Omagh bomb, have told how they felt almost ashamed to be part of the Inquest proceedings, after the actions of policemen were subject to questioning.
In a statement read to the Inquest on Friday morning, the Hawkes family criticised the nature of questioning of the RUC, saying it almost overshadowed those directly responsible for the murder of their mother.
Mandy Walker, a daughter of the 60 year old bomb victim, said her family are eternally grateful to the police, in knowing that their mother was not alone and was treated with the respect and dignity that she so richly deserved.
"That is what is important here to us, for no one here is on trial or accountable in our minds.
"As a family we have, at times, felt almost ashamed being part of a proceedings whereby those to whom we should be honouring for their bravery and compassion are being questioned, and almost overshadowed those directly responsible for the murder of Elizabeth Olive Hawkes."
Mrs Walker said neither the inquest, nor time, will succeed in easing the family's grief and deep sense of loss.
"Indeed, it has done nothing more than to paint a vivid picture in our minds forever; of the day when the so called Real IRA destroyed our family unit and robbed us of the opportunity to even say goodbye to the most precious gift that God could have given us."
Mrs Walker said that whilst she respected the need to adapt some detachment in the proceedings, she wanted to state that her mother was not just a deceased body at the scene, she was foremost 'a wonderful person, who was much loved and needed by her family.'
"Although she was 60 years of age I can assure you that she had an enormous enthusiasm and vitality for life and was not simply a housewife, she was so much more to those most fortunate whose lives she touched."
The Inquest into the death of Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing of the explosion.
State pathologist, Dr Jack Crane, said Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing about what happened. Death, he said, would have been immediate.
The coroner said it would have been of some comfort that Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing at all.
"I get a sense as I go through the individual deaths that it is very important to the family to see if their loved ones suffered.
"Mrs Hawkes would have been oblivious of all the horror of what happened and I hope that provides some comfort to her family," he added.
The inquest also heard disturbing evidence that formal identification had been made by fingerprint.
THE FAMILY of Olive Hawkes, killed in the Omagh bomb, have told how they felt almost ashamed to be part of the Inquest proceedings, after the actions of policemen were subject to questioning.
In a statement read to the Inquest on Friday morning, the Hawkes family criticised the nature of questioning of the RUC, saying it almost overshadowed those directly responsible for the murder of their mother.
Mandy Walker, a daughter of the 60 year old bomb victim, said her family are eternally grateful to the police, in knowing that their mother was not alone and was treated with the respect and dignity that she so richly deserved.
"That is what is important here to us, for no one here is on trial or accountable in our minds.
"As a family we have, at times, felt almost ashamed being part of a proceedings whereby those to whom we should be honouring for their bravery and compassion are being questioned, and almost overshadowed those directly responsible for the murder of Elizabeth Olive Hawkes."
Mrs Walker said neither the inquest, nor time, will succeed in easing the family's grief and deep sense of loss.
"Indeed, it has done nothing more than to paint a vivid picture in our minds forever; of the day when the so called Real IRA destroyed our family unit and robbed us of the opportunity to even say goodbye to the most precious gift that God could have given us."
Mrs Walker said that whilst she respected the need to adapt some detachment in the proceedings, she wanted to state that her mother was not just a deceased body at the scene, she was foremost 'a wonderful person, who was much loved and needed by her family.'
"Although she was 60 years of age I can assure you that she had an enormous enthusiasm and vitality for life and was not simply a housewife, she was so much more to those most fortunate whose lives she touched."
The Inquest into the death of Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing of the explosion.
State pathologist, Dr Jack Crane, said Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing about what happened. Death, he said, would have been immediate.
The coroner said it would have been of some comfort that Mrs Hawkes would have known nothing at all.
"I get a sense as I go through the individual deaths that it is very important to the family to see if their loved ones suffered.
"Mrs Hawkes would have been oblivious of all the horror of what happened and I hope that provides some comfort to her family," he added.
The inquest also heard disturbing evidence that formal identification had been made by fingerprint.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1487
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
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