CHAIRMAN WELCOMES POSITIVE REACTION TO MEMORIAL WORDING
Chairman welcomes positive reaction to memorial wording
OMAGH District Council Chairman Bert Wilson has welcomed the widespread positive reaction to the recommendations of the independent facilitators on the Omagh Memorial narrative.
Cllr Wilson explained that the independent facilitators had held over 80 meetings and had come to the conclusion that "no single group represents all the bereaved, injured and those deeply affected by the bomb".
This outcome, he said, corroborated the council decision to embark on an independent facilitation process which was open to all those affected.
In speaking of the significance of the process in reaching a balanced and sensitive outcome, the chairman added that Rev. Dr John Dunlop had advised that the team had spoken to the vast majority of bereaved families and to a wide range of others, including families and individuals directly affected by the bomb who had never spoken to anyone before about their experiences.
"The lengthy narrative tells the story of August 15, 1998, in a sensitive, factual, yet inspirational manner and takes on board the diverse views which exist amongst the victims," Cllr Wilson added.
The recommendations of the Independent Facilitation Team have also been unanimously endorsed by Omagh Memorial Working Group which includes representatives of the three governments and have al-
so been warmly welcomed by representatives of the local churches who met the members of the Independent Facilitation Team on Friday to learn of their findings.
Initial indications are that a number of individual families have already contacted the council to register their support for the narrative and that those families represented by Omagh Support and Self Help Group have also informally indicated their support.
The council chairman added that Omagh District Council would now correspond with each of the bereaved families to seek their approval for the inclusion of their loved one's name on the memorial together with their decision on the inclusion of town or townland.
Full details of the report and narrative are available to view online at www.omagh.gov.uk
For further information contact Kim McLaughlin, Project Officer (Tel: 028 82245321 ext 289; kim.mclaughlin@omagh.gov.uk)
OMAGH District Council Chairman Bert Wilson has welcomed the widespread positive reaction to the recommendations of the independent facilitators on the Omagh Memorial narrative.
Cllr Wilson explained that the independent facilitators had held over 80 meetings and had come to the conclusion that "no single group represents all the bereaved, injured and those deeply affected by the bomb".
This outcome, he said, corroborated the council decision to embark on an independent facilitation process which was open to all those affected.
In speaking of the significance of the process in reaching a balanced and sensitive outcome, the chairman added that Rev. Dr John Dunlop had advised that the team had spoken to the vast majority of bereaved families and to a wide range of others, including families and individuals directly affected by the bomb who had never spoken to anyone before about their experiences.
"The lengthy narrative tells the story of August 15, 1998, in a sensitive, factual, yet inspirational manner and takes on board the diverse views which exist amongst the victims," Cllr Wilson added.
The recommendations of the Independent Facilitation Team have also been unanimously endorsed by Omagh Memorial Working Group which includes representatives of the three governments and have al-
so been warmly welcomed by representatives of the local churches who met the members of the Independent Facilitation Team on Friday to learn of their findings.
Initial indications are that a number of individual families have already contacted the council to register their support for the narrative and that those families represented by Omagh Support and Self Help Group have also informally indicated their support.
The council chairman added that Omagh District Council would now correspond with each of the bereaved families to seek their approval for the inclusion of their loved one's name on the memorial together with their decision on the inclusion of town or townland.
Full details of the report and narrative are available to view online at www.omagh.gov.uk
For further information contact Kim McLaughlin, Project Officer (Tel: 028 82245321 ext 289; kim.mclaughlin@omagh.gov.uk)
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1930
Published Date: 13-Mar-08
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