COUNCIL LET DOWN BEREAVED FAMILIES ON BOMB MEMORIAL
Council let down bereaved families on bomb memorial
In response to the April 10 article about the Memorial Working Group set up by Omagh District Council, I feel as a bereaved father (having had previous meetings with the Memorial Working Group along with injured and bereaved families regarding this matter), that our views are not being taken seriously by Omagh District Council.
Eight and a half years ago, a memorial stone was chosen and agreed by all, including the Memorial Working Group. The wording was agreed by the bereaved and injured families and it told the truth. This, the council found unacceptable and never explained to us why this is now deemed as inappropriate. We tirelessly worked with the council and for nothing. It is us that have lost our families, not the council, so therefore we should have the right to choose what is fitting for our loved ones.
All we have asked for in previous meetings is for a memorial that is fitting for those bereaved and injured and to inform all, of the cause of how they were unjustifiably killed in cold blood and who was responsible. The inscription needs to be exact in telling how this terrible injustice happened to ensure those innocent people will never be forgotten. We at least owe them this much. I can't understand why the council is preventing us from doing this. Who are we insulting or offending? Surely it is not afraid of offending the perpetrators?
As I drive around certain areas I see memorials erected for terrorist groups who have not got permission from Planning Services. They choose their own words and in detail. Why does the council not question this or demolish these unlicensed memorials?
I can't believe that it has the audacity to even put it out to tender as a competition. Does it actually think that an atrocity such as this should be handled this way? I feel the council is treating this whole thing insensitively and disrespecting the families. It should be solely for those bereaved and injured involved with the Omagh bomb. If there was any decency or humanity, the victims' families would have been contacted to honour their wishes before going ahead with this, leaving the victims with the final decision.
Has the council forgotten how it grasped the world's attention and how Omagh was inundated with dignitaries who felt the needed to come to show respect. What does our local council do, advertise it as a competition! Next it will be advertising it as a phone-in vote for the best memorial, inadvertently ignoring our requests. The council has done nothing to make us respect or have confidence in it. The actions it has taken have shown that it is again bringing the whole aspect of the Omagh victims into a bad light. We are fighting many a battle, as hard as may be, but at least we expected our local council to assist us with our ongoing wishes.
Mr and Mrs Godfrey Wilson
Garry Wilson
Colin Wilson
and Denise Kerrigan
(mother and father, brothers and sister of the late Lorraine Wilson).
In response to the April 10 article about the Memorial Working Group set up by Omagh District Council, I feel as a bereaved father (having had previous meetings with the Memorial Working Group along with injured and bereaved families regarding this matter), that our views are not being taken seriously by Omagh District Council.
Eight and a half years ago, a memorial stone was chosen and agreed by all, including the Memorial Working Group. The wording was agreed by the bereaved and injured families and it told the truth. This, the council found unacceptable and never explained to us why this is now deemed as inappropriate. We tirelessly worked with the council and for nothing. It is us that have lost our families, not the council, so therefore we should have the right to choose what is fitting for our loved ones.
All we have asked for in previous meetings is for a memorial that is fitting for those bereaved and injured and to inform all, of the cause of how they were unjustifiably killed in cold blood and who was responsible. The inscription needs to be exact in telling how this terrible injustice happened to ensure those innocent people will never be forgotten. We at least owe them this much. I can't understand why the council is preventing us from doing this. Who are we insulting or offending? Surely it is not afraid of offending the perpetrators?
As I drive around certain areas I see memorials erected for terrorist groups who have not got permission from Planning Services. They choose their own words and in detail. Why does the council not question this or demolish these unlicensed memorials?
I can't believe that it has the audacity to even put it out to tender as a competition. Does it actually think that an atrocity such as this should be handled this way? I feel the council is treating this whole thing insensitively and disrespecting the families. It should be solely for those bereaved and injured involved with the Omagh bomb. If there was any decency or humanity, the victims' families would have been contacted to honour their wishes before going ahead with this, leaving the victims with the final decision.
Has the council forgotten how it grasped the world's attention and how Omagh was inundated with dignitaries who felt the needed to come to show respect. What does our local council do, advertise it as a competition! Next it will be advertising it as a phone-in vote for the best memorial, inadvertently ignoring our requests. The council has done nothing to make us respect or have confidence in it. The actions it has taken have shown that it is again bringing the whole aspect of the Omagh victims into a bad light. We are fighting many a battle, as hard as may be, but at least we expected our local council to assist us with our ongoing wishes.
Mr and Mrs Godfrey Wilson
Garry Wilson
Colin Wilson
and Denise Kerrigan
(mother and father, brothers and sister of the late Lorraine Wilson).
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1899
Published Date: 03-May-07
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