Day 7

Friday 21st

Manuel Blasco pledges to return

The father of the Spanish boy killed in Omagh pledged to defy the terrorists by sending his other children on summer courses in Ireland. Manuel Blasco's son Fernando (12) was on a summer English language course based in Buncrana when he was killed along with his teacher Rocio Abad Ramos. Manual Blasco's daughter, Lucrecia, who was also injured in the blast, was allowed home from hospital.

Offers of help

Cash donations and offers of help continued to flood into Omagh. The families of people injured in the explosion were offered free rooms in hotels across the province. The Europa Hotel offered 10 rooms to families visiting the Royal and City hospitals. The Everglades Hotel in Londonderry and the Stormont Hotel in Belfast also accommodated families in any spare rooms they had.

Hospital update

The hospitals released an update on casualties. Tyrone County Hospital Omagh had seven adults, two children and all patients were reported to be stable. The Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast had five adults and two children of whom seven were described as being critical. Altnagelvin Hospital Derry had thirteen adults and five children - one patient described as being very seriously ill, three patients seriously ill, two ill and twelve stable. The Erne Hospital in Enniskillen had fourteen adults and two children - four patients were still in intensive care. The Ulster Hospital Dundonald had four adults and three children - all were described as stable.

Police questions

Police continued to question two men in connection with the Omagh bombing. Three other men arrested earlier in the week were released without charge. Meanwhile, the RUC investigation had revealed that the Omagh bombers casually mingled with crowds of Saturday shoppers after abandoning their deadly cargo.

Books of condolence

Books of condolence across Ireland, the UK and all over the world were signed.

Services planned

Throughout Ireland arrangements were made for a minute's silence to remember the victims of Omagh. The leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland asked people to observe the silence on Saturday afternoon at 3.10pm. In cities, towns and villages Vigils of Remembrance were organised to coincide with the gesture.​​