Service for victims of Omagh bomb
Relatives at memorial service in Ulster town
REMEMBRANCE: On the 20th anniversary of the biggest single atrocity in the 30 years of troubles in Northern Ireland, relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing gathered at an inter-denominational service.
IT WAS a tragedy too terrible to remember but too monumental to forget.
On the 20th anniversary weekend of the biggest single atrocity in the 30 years of troubles in Northern Ireland, relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing gathered to remember their loved ones at an inter-denominational service.
Twenty-nine people, including a pregnant woman with twins, were killed when a car bomb tore apart the Co Tyrone town on August 15, 1998. The victims came from Ulster, the Republic of Ireland, England and Spain.
A republican splinter group calling itself the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, which came four months after the Good Friday Agreement to end the bloodshed.
The peace process had been supported by the IRA’s political wing, Sinn Féin, which the rebels accused of betrayal.
George Hamilton, Northern Ireland’s chief constable, was among those attending yesterday’s service.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden, 21, was among the victims, and who chairs the support group which organised the service, paid tribute to all the victims of the three-decade conflict.
He said that as a small province Northern Ireland had its greatest challenges still ahead, and called on the political parties to seek agreement to “move forward”.
“Working alone we can achieve very little but in collaborative ventures we can achieve a great deal,” he said.
John McKinney, former chief executive of Omagh Council, told the families they had shown “courage and leadership”.
“It was a struggle, a daily struggle, and I’m sure 20 years is more like 100 years,” he said.
The memorial service, Out of Darkness, included musicians, readers, singers and clergy from a number of religious denominations.
The Omagh Community Youth Choir performed a piece of music composed by its musical director, Daryl Simpson. The choir includes Cara McGillion, 17, the daughter of Donna Marie and Garry, who were seriously injured in the attack.
In Omagh’s memorial garden, wreaths were laid and the names of all those killed read out, one by one. Relatives of the dead sat opposite the garden’s reflecting pool, their garlands of flowers reflected in the water.
A song was sung for Our Special Absent Friends by Leslie Matthews, who also paid tribute to Mr Gallagher, saying he was the reason “we are all here today”.
In collaborative ventures we can achieve a great deal, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden, 21, was among the victims.