DETAILS OF SON'S DEATH WERE UNBEARABLY HARD FOR MOTHER
Details of son's of death were 'unbearably hard' for mother
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
AN Omagh mother, whose son died in the bomb, has said that while she found the Inquest into his death "unbearably hard", she also was able to draw consolation from things she heard.
Marion Radford was comforted to know that her son, Alan, died quickly and she met the policeman who 'with dignity, took care of Alan's body'. However, she said the Inquest revealed details of Alan's injuries which she fears she may never be able to forget.
Speaking with other members from the Omagh Self Help and Support group at a press conference at the conclusion of the Inquests, Mrs Radford said all the families had been dreading the hearings, but felt they had little choice.
Michael Gallagher said that the Inquests had brought a mixture of pain and grim satisfaction pain because of all the graphic details revealed, but also satisfaction that they were able to hear exactly what happened on that day in Omagh. He said he personally did not want to listen to details of how his son died, but he was afraid if he did not that he would, sometime in the future, hear it from someone else who had been there or who read it somewhere.
Mr Gallagher said that the video footage shown was also horrific to watch, but he said he felt this footage should be shown widely to let the world know the harm a 500lb bomb can do.
He said that the group plans to continue its campaign to bring the bombers to justice.
The group had taken consolation from the evidence of Eric Anderson. Stanley McCombe said he felt that having spoken with the detective superintendent, Tadgh Foley and Mr Anderson afterwards, that they were doing everything possible. He said he was confident that there might be a breakthrough in the investigation although he refused to be drawn further.
When asked how the group felt about the Coroner's refusal to send a report about the police to the chief constable, Marion Radford said she was happy enough about that.
She said "Hindsight is a wonderful thing. On that day in Omagh police were asking people to move, but everyone was standing around laughing and chatting and not moving on when initially asked".
She went on "There can always be improvements, but I am happy enough with that" she said.
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
AN Omagh mother, whose son died in the bomb, has said that while she found the Inquest into his death "unbearably hard", she also was able to draw consolation from things she heard.
Marion Radford was comforted to know that her son, Alan, died quickly and she met the policeman who 'with dignity, took care of Alan's body'. However, she said the Inquest revealed details of Alan's injuries which she fears she may never be able to forget.
Speaking with other members from the Omagh Self Help and Support group at a press conference at the conclusion of the Inquests, Mrs Radford said all the families had been dreading the hearings, but felt they had little choice.
Michael Gallagher said that the Inquests had brought a mixture of pain and grim satisfaction pain because of all the graphic details revealed, but also satisfaction that they were able to hear exactly what happened on that day in Omagh. He said he personally did not want to listen to details of how his son died, but he was afraid if he did not that he would, sometime in the future, hear it from someone else who had been there or who read it somewhere.
Mr Gallagher said that the video footage shown was also horrific to watch, but he said he felt this footage should be shown widely to let the world know the harm a 500lb bomb can do.
He said that the group plans to continue its campaign to bring the bombers to justice.
The group had taken consolation from the evidence of Eric Anderson. Stanley McCombe said he felt that having spoken with the detective superintendent, Tadgh Foley and Mr Anderson afterwards, that they were doing everything possible. He said he was confident that there might be a breakthrough in the investigation although he refused to be drawn further.
When asked how the group felt about the Coroner's refusal to send a report about the police to the chief constable, Marion Radford said she was happy enough about that.
She said "Hindsight is a wonderful thing. On that day in Omagh police were asking people to move, but everyone was standing around laughing and chatting and not moving on when initially asked".
She went on "There can always be improvements, but I am happy enough with that" she said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1498
Published Date: 05-Oct-00
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