MIXED REACTION TO FILM ON OMAGHS BOMB TRAGEDY
Mixed reaction to film on Omagh's bomb tragedy
The Ulster Herald invited readers to share their feelings on the film of the l998 Omagh atrocity which was screen on Channel 4 and RTE last week. These submissions were returned through our on line edition and through the Wave Trauma Centre.
"I have been attending the Wave Trauma Centre since the bomb. Michael Gallagher is not the only one suffering here. I have horrific injuries from the bomb. The reality is I have to live with them for the rest of my life. I don't need to watch a film to remind me of that awful day. Michael Gallagher does forget to mention the injured people in his public statements." - Anon
"While I can empathise with Michael Gallagher and his family, I, as a severely injured victim of the Omagh bomb, am absolutely disgusted that a film has been made so soon. We all (injured included) would like the bombers to be caught but the reality is they never will be. It is hard enough every day to live with my horrific scars and injuries without having a film to remind me of that day. The injured are never consulted about anything to do with the bomb, let alone this film. Michael Gallagher needs to remember our feelings and not just his own." - Anon
"As one who attended the Wave and the Trauma Centre, I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and to know that when I heard of a film to be made of the Omagh bomb I was very much against it and find that even up until now I could not get myself together to watch all the flashbacks that I had seen." - Anon
"In my opinion this film should never have been shown so soon, maybe in another ten years, it's much too fresh in people's memories. Mentally I feel it's much too soon for everyone involved." - Anon
"I was severely injured in the Omagh bomb and I was never told anything about a film which I am furious about. I'm still waiting compensation to try and get on with my life, which I never will. It's obvious 'these people who wanted to make a film were not in town on the day." - Anon
"The filming of this atrocity is an insult to the injured of Omagh. Our opinion was never asked about this film. It is an insult and the people who made this film have no feelings for the injured." - Anon
"I watched the movie late on Thursday night. I was very impressed by the portrayal of Michael Gallagher by Gerald McSorley. It was a very moving piece of acting. The gentleman who played Stanley McCombe was also an inspired piece of casting. Although I have left Omagh 24 years ago this year, it still is home, and always will be. The day the bomb went off sticks clearly in my mind, the frantic phone calls home, always engaged, the not knowing what was actually happening, the frightening thoughts that went through one's mind at the time.
"All of these things were brought back to me as I watched the search for Aidan Gallagher unfold. I hope anyone who watched the programme was able to get a feel for how the horrors of that day unfolded. It was a few days later that I discovered Geraldine Breslin had been killed. We grew up together in Omagh, we had mutual friends, and it really brought the event sickeningly home to find out she had gone.
"Omagh is the place I was raised, Omagh is the place many of my family and relatives still live, including my mother, brothers, sisters-in-law and many nephews and nieces. I hope that the depiction of what happened hastens the civil case against those who perpetrated this act and that then individuals can have some closure from this terrible deed." - Declan
"As one of those people lucky enough to not have been directly affected" by the bomb, I would like to say that for those such as myself, it was a powerful reminder of the event we have all talked about but few in Omagh are really qualified to speak about. It is an event that deserved this treatment, and adds to the difficult questions surrounding the peace process, in whatever battered form it still holds. The film presents an opportunity for the town itself to move on from the tragedy while giving the families themselves an opportunity to air their frustration with the subsequent inquiry. It affected us all, and many were directly affected, but I hope this leads to the proper memorial for the victims and their relatives, while giving space to those who didn't suffer as much as the real victims an opportunity to come to terms with their own feelings. We need to stop talking about Omagh and start talking about the particular individuals who really suffered.
May they find peace and justice in this world." -Anon
"I will watch this film Omagh. I come from Omagh so it has so many home ties for me. I guess once I have seen it it will leave a lasting mark probably bringing back the feelings that I had when I heard that a bomb had went of in Omagh. I do feel for anyone who was caught up in the bomb in anyway, as I'm sure it is going to bring back some unpleasant memories.
I have heard that there is mixed feelings within the Omagh community as to weather this film should of been shown at all on the reasoning that we all know what happened, why do we need it televised, as it will just reopen old feelings. I guess it will have an impact an impact on the wider viewing public as it will be shown on Channel 4." - Sorcha
This was very difficult as before watching the film I would have said yes , however after seeing it on Saturday, I found that possibly the wounds are still to raw. I agree that the film could be very worth while and affective but maybe 5 years isn't long enough.
" Personally I felt deeply affected by the film with tumultuous feelings of both sadness and anger." - EMC
The Ulster Herald invited readers to share their feelings on the film of the l998 Omagh atrocity which was screen on Channel 4 and RTE last week. These submissions were returned through our on line edition and through the Wave Trauma Centre.
"I have been attending the Wave Trauma Centre since the bomb. Michael Gallagher is not the only one suffering here. I have horrific injuries from the bomb. The reality is I have to live with them for the rest of my life. I don't need to watch a film to remind me of that awful day. Michael Gallagher does forget to mention the injured people in his public statements." - Anon
"While I can empathise with Michael Gallagher and his family, I, as a severely injured victim of the Omagh bomb, am absolutely disgusted that a film has been made so soon. We all (injured included) would like the bombers to be caught but the reality is they never will be. It is hard enough every day to live with my horrific scars and injuries without having a film to remind me of that day. The injured are never consulted about anything to do with the bomb, let alone this film. Michael Gallagher needs to remember our feelings and not just his own." - Anon
"As one who attended the Wave and the Trauma Centre, I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and to know that when I heard of a film to be made of the Omagh bomb I was very much against it and find that even up until now I could not get myself together to watch all the flashbacks that I had seen." - Anon
"In my opinion this film should never have been shown so soon, maybe in another ten years, it's much too fresh in people's memories. Mentally I feel it's much too soon for everyone involved." - Anon
"I was severely injured in the Omagh bomb and I was never told anything about a film which I am furious about. I'm still waiting compensation to try and get on with my life, which I never will. It's obvious 'these people who wanted to make a film were not in town on the day." - Anon
"The filming of this atrocity is an insult to the injured of Omagh. Our opinion was never asked about this film. It is an insult and the people who made this film have no feelings for the injured." - Anon
"I watched the movie late on Thursday night. I was very impressed by the portrayal of Michael Gallagher by Gerald McSorley. It was a very moving piece of acting. The gentleman who played Stanley McCombe was also an inspired piece of casting. Although I have left Omagh 24 years ago this year, it still is home, and always will be. The day the bomb went off sticks clearly in my mind, the frantic phone calls home, always engaged, the not knowing what was actually happening, the frightening thoughts that went through one's mind at the time.
"All of these things were brought back to me as I watched the search for Aidan Gallagher unfold. I hope anyone who watched the programme was able to get a feel for how the horrors of that day unfolded. It was a few days later that I discovered Geraldine Breslin had been killed. We grew up together in Omagh, we had mutual friends, and it really brought the event sickeningly home to find out she had gone.
"Omagh is the place I was raised, Omagh is the place many of my family and relatives still live, including my mother, brothers, sisters-in-law and many nephews and nieces. I hope that the depiction of what happened hastens the civil case against those who perpetrated this act and that then individuals can have some closure from this terrible deed." - Declan
"As one of those people lucky enough to not have been directly affected" by the bomb, I would like to say that for those such as myself, it was a powerful reminder of the event we have all talked about but few in Omagh are really qualified to speak about. It is an event that deserved this treatment, and adds to the difficult questions surrounding the peace process, in whatever battered form it still holds. The film presents an opportunity for the town itself to move on from the tragedy while giving the families themselves an opportunity to air their frustration with the subsequent inquiry. It affected us all, and many were directly affected, but I hope this leads to the proper memorial for the victims and their relatives, while giving space to those who didn't suffer as much as the real victims an opportunity to come to terms with their own feelings. We need to stop talking about Omagh and start talking about the particular individuals who really suffered.
May they find peace and justice in this world." -Anon
"I will watch this film Omagh. I come from Omagh so it has so many home ties for me. I guess once I have seen it it will leave a lasting mark probably bringing back the feelings that I had when I heard that a bomb had went of in Omagh. I do feel for anyone who was caught up in the bomb in anyway, as I'm sure it is going to bring back some unpleasant memories.
I have heard that there is mixed feelings within the Omagh community as to weather this film should of been shown at all on the reasoning that we all know what happened, why do we need it televised, as it will just reopen old feelings. I guess it will have an impact an impact on the wider viewing public as it will be shown on Channel 4." - Sorcha
This was very difficult as before watching the film I would have said yes , however after seeing it on Saturday, I found that possibly the wounds are still to raw. I agree that the film could be very worth while and affective but maybe 5 years isn't long enough.
" Personally I felt deeply affected by the film with tumultuous feelings of both sadness and anger." - EMC
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1668
Published Date: 03-Jun-04
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