OMAGH FAMILIES MEET NEW VICTIMS CHIEF
Omagh families meet new Victims chief
Relatives have opportunity to relay concerns about Omagh investigation
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE Omagh Families this week met with the new Victims' Commissioner Bertha McDougall.
Since taking up her position at the start of this month Mrs McDougall has been out and about meeting victims of the violence in the North.
In what was described as a very positive meeting lasting under two hours, the Commissioner listened to concerns of the families of the 31 people killed in the Omagh bomb.
The group has been very proactive on many issues in the eight years since the bomb and raised these with Mrs McDougall.
Speaking afterwards, Michael Gallagher, group chairman said "It was a very good meeting at which we were able to put forward our concerns. She is only a few weeks in the post and it was more of a listening exercise for her".
Mr Gallagher said the group will be having another meeting with Mrs McDougall in January.
The meeting with the Commissioner was held at the office of the Omagh Support and Self Help group and was attended by members of the Radford family, Billy Jameson, Edith White and co-ordinator, Sharon Watters and Michael Gallagher.
The need for a public inquiry to be held on the Omagh bomb was the most pressing issue for the group.
Mr Gallagher said "We raised the need for a public inquiry with the Prime Minister and reiterated it to Mrs McDougall".
"We are hoping that she will be able to open doors for us and facilitate meetings with people to whom we find it difficult to get access".
"The Commissioner was presented with all the facts of the case and realised just how complex Omagh is" said Mr Gallagher
"She was very compassionate and said the meeting was one of a number she was having with victims' groups to familiarise herself with the issue affecting victims," he said.
Ms McDougall is no stranger to tragedy herself - she is the widow of an RUC police reservist who was murdered by the INLA in 1981.
Mr Gallagher said that was a plus in her new post.
"She is a lady that has at first-hand experienced the difficulties of people who have been bereaved."
Relatives have opportunity to relay concerns about Omagh investigation
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE Omagh Families this week met with the new Victims' Commissioner Bertha McDougall.
Since taking up her position at the start of this month Mrs McDougall has been out and about meeting victims of the violence in the North.
In what was described as a very positive meeting lasting under two hours, the Commissioner listened to concerns of the families of the 31 people killed in the Omagh bomb.
The group has been very proactive on many issues in the eight years since the bomb and raised these with Mrs McDougall.
Speaking afterwards, Michael Gallagher, group chairman said "It was a very good meeting at which we were able to put forward our concerns. She is only a few weeks in the post and it was more of a listening exercise for her".
Mr Gallagher said the group will be having another meeting with Mrs McDougall in January.
The meeting with the Commissioner was held at the office of the Omagh Support and Self Help group and was attended by members of the Radford family, Billy Jameson, Edith White and co-ordinator, Sharon Watters and Michael Gallagher.
The need for a public inquiry to be held on the Omagh bomb was the most pressing issue for the group.
Mr Gallagher said "We raised the need for a public inquiry with the Prime Minister and reiterated it to Mrs McDougall".
"We are hoping that she will be able to open doors for us and facilitate meetings with people to whom we find it difficult to get access".
"The Commissioner was presented with all the facts of the case and realised just how complex Omagh is" said Mr Gallagher
"She was very compassionate and said the meeting was one of a number she was having with victims' groups to familiarise herself with the issue affecting victims," he said.
Ms McDougall is no stranger to tragedy herself - she is the widow of an RUC police reservist who was murdered by the INLA in 1981.
Mr Gallagher said that was a plus in her new post.
"She is a lady that has at first-hand experienced the difficulties of people who have been bereaved."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1835
Published Date: 15-Dec-05
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