I FEEL STEAMROLLED BY DECISION ON NEW OMAGH BOMB MEMORIAL
I FEEL STEAMROLLED BY DECISION ON NEW OMAGH BOMB MEMORIAL
Regarding the Omagh Bomb Memorial narrative, I am reluctant to write this letter; however, I am sure there are a number of families who are deeply unhappy with the Omagh District Council and feel totally isolated because they are individuals and are not represented by any particular group to express their thoughts and reservations concerning the memorial. I, as an individual, abhor the steamrolling tactics by Omagh District Council.
It is quite evident that their strategy was to ignore any input from the families.
I refer to:
(i) The Terms of Reference, of which I had no sight of until I received the report at 8pm on Thursday, March 6.
(ii) The Terms of Reference clearly illustrated to me that the Omagh District Council were to be the acceptors/rejecters of the recommendations. Have Omagh District Council a right to make a decision for myself and family? This cannot be right.
(iii) I also draw your attention to the article in the March 10 Tyrone Herald where the Rev. Dunlop expressed surprise at the non-attendance of the families.
How could they attend when the council, for reasons known to them, did not have the courtesy to inform the families of their release of the recommendations? In other words, it was the council's policy not to have any families present.
Furthermore, there is the pomposity of the council spokesperson saying that it is "usual council practice" not to invite anyone to their meetings. Have I and the other families become intruders? How dare they? It is they who have become trespassers on our sorrow.
Could I now refer to section 4 of the narrative? Why include such divisive words? In fact these words, "Good Friday/Belfast Agreement" were coined by the tabloid press. It is officially called "The Agreement" and should be referred to as that.
I had, along with many other families, no input on the recommendations. Therefore I shall be writing to the facilitation team expressing my concerns and I hope other families who feel totally isolated will do the same or likewise.
I must also object to a pre-filled reply slip received on March 12 with details completed of my wife's name, age and town/townland which they, the council, have asked myself to forward for the "Garden of Light". This is another intrusion which is distressing and private. The closure date for the reply slip is March 28!
Laurence Rush
Omagh
Regarding the Omagh Bomb Memorial narrative, I am reluctant to write this letter; however, I am sure there are a number of families who are deeply unhappy with the Omagh District Council and feel totally isolated because they are individuals and are not represented by any particular group to express their thoughts and reservations concerning the memorial. I, as an individual, abhor the steamrolling tactics by Omagh District Council.
It is quite evident that their strategy was to ignore any input from the families.
I refer to:
(i) The Terms of Reference, of which I had no sight of until I received the report at 8pm on Thursday, March 6.
(ii) The Terms of Reference clearly illustrated to me that the Omagh District Council were to be the acceptors/rejecters of the recommendations. Have Omagh District Council a right to make a decision for myself and family? This cannot be right.
(iii) I also draw your attention to the article in the March 10 Tyrone Herald where the Rev. Dunlop expressed surprise at the non-attendance of the families.
How could they attend when the council, for reasons known to them, did not have the courtesy to inform the families of their release of the recommendations? In other words, it was the council's policy not to have any families present.
Furthermore, there is the pomposity of the council spokesperson saying that it is "usual council practice" not to invite anyone to their meetings. Have I and the other families become intruders? How dare they? It is they who have become trespassers on our sorrow.
Could I now refer to section 4 of the narrative? Why include such divisive words? In fact these words, "Good Friday/Belfast Agreement" were coined by the tabloid press. It is officially called "The Agreement" and should be referred to as that.
I had, along with many other families, no input on the recommendations. Therefore I shall be writing to the facilitation team expressing my concerns and I hope other families who feel totally isolated will do the same or likewise.
I must also object to a pre-filled reply slip received on March 12 with details completed of my wife's name, age and town/townland which they, the council, have asked myself to forward for the "Garden of Light". This is another intrusion which is distressing and private. The closure date for the reply slip is March 28!
Laurence Rush
Omagh
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1931
Published Date: 27-Mar-08
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