MIRACLE BABY FOR COUPLE CAUGHT UP IN OMAGH BLAST
Miracle baby for couple caught up in Omagh blast
A YOUNG Omagh mother, who was expecting when she was injured in the bomb, has given birth to a bouncing baby daughter last Friday.
Twenty-five year old Karen Armstrong gave birth to Lucy at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry a baby whom her mother has described as a little miracle.
For not only did Lucy survive being injured in the Omagh bomb, she also escaped unscathed when her Mum and Dad's plane crashlanded at Tenerife a few weeks earlier.
Just days before the Omagh bomb, Karen and her partner, Stephen McCrea, had travelled to Tenerife for a short break. Karen was expecting at the time and was alarmed when they were told that the pilot might have to make an emergency landing.
Karen said she was very worried about the safety of her unborn child, as they started taking off shoes and jewellery in preparation for the crash landing.
They both, who had been looking forward so much to their week in the sunny seaside resort, were told that the pilot would have to fly for a few hours to get rid of the fuel.
"Then after two unsuccessful emergency landings, we crash landed in Tenerife - "I will never forget it" said Karen.
A week after they returned home to Omagh, they were in Kells shop in Market Street when the massive bomb exploded.
All Karen could think of was the safety of her baby and wondered if it could possibly survive another traumatic event.
"I know every baby is special to the parents. But not too many babies in the womb have survived a crashlanding in a plane and a bomb explosion.
"Lucy was meant to be. She has a special place in this world and hopefully she will have a peaceful future because she has already gone through so much" said the proud mother.
A YOUNG Omagh mother, who was expecting when she was injured in the bomb, has given birth to a bouncing baby daughter last Friday.
Twenty-five year old Karen Armstrong gave birth to Lucy at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry a baby whom her mother has described as a little miracle.
For not only did Lucy survive being injured in the Omagh bomb, she also escaped unscathed when her Mum and Dad's plane crashlanded at Tenerife a few weeks earlier.
Just days before the Omagh bomb, Karen and her partner, Stephen McCrea, had travelled to Tenerife for a short break. Karen was expecting at the time and was alarmed when they were told that the pilot might have to make an emergency landing.
Karen said she was very worried about the safety of her unborn child, as they started taking off shoes and jewellery in preparation for the crash landing.
They both, who had been looking forward so much to their week in the sunny seaside resort, were told that the pilot would have to fly for a few hours to get rid of the fuel.
"Then after two unsuccessful emergency landings, we crash landed in Tenerife - "I will never forget it" said Karen.
A week after they returned home to Omagh, they were in Kells shop in Market Street when the massive bomb exploded.
All Karen could think of was the safety of her baby and wondered if it could possibly survive another traumatic event.
"I know every baby is special to the parents. But not too many babies in the womb have survived a crashlanding in a plane and a bomb explosion.
"Lucy was meant to be. She has a special place in this world and hopefully she will have a peaceful future because she has already gone through so much" said the proud mother.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1711
Published Date: 10-Dec-98
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