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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Omagh marks 10th anniversary

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Published Date: 15 August 2008
A MINUTE'S silence has been held in Omagh to mark exactly the moment a Real IRA bomb killed 29 people in the county town a decade ago.
A memorial service was held in Omagh on Friday to mark the 10th anniversary of the bombing which killed 29 people.

Thousands packed the streets of the market town to remember those who died on 15 August 1998.

The plans for the anniversary have been dogged by controversy and the memorial service was boycotted by the families of at least 10 of the victims.

Earlier, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has praised the "dignity and courage" of the Omagh families ahead of the memorial event, ten years since the atrocity.

Mr Woodward represented the British Government at the commemmorative service.

Speaking ahead of the service, the Secretary of State said: "The events of August 15th 1998 will forever be indelibly marked in the minds and hearts of all decent people. From the moment their murder happened, we have wanted to show their families and friends that we were at one with them."

"The dignity and courage of the families and friends of those who were murdered has, with the towering response of the people of Omagh, shown the world that terrorism has no place in a decent world," he added.

Former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite gave an address at the event, which was attended by Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Irish PM Brian Cowen.

Many relatives of the victims are unhappy with the way Omagh District Council has handled the contentious issue of the wording on a series of new memorials at the bomb site in Market street and the nearby Garden of Remembrance.

Families belonging to the Omagh Support and Self Help group have organised an alternative commemoration event, which will take place on Sunday.

Tensions heightened last weekend when it emerged that the leaders of the four main churches in the town had rejected an invite to attend the family organised service.

However, the clergy have since reversed their decision and will now be present at Sunday's event.

The families who are prepared to attend the council commemoration will be joined by a host of dignitaries for a 45-minute ceremony beside the newly-built memorial garden, which is a short walk from the bomb site.

One decade on, the perpetrators have still not been brought to justice.

This week, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde admitted it is highly unlikely anyone will be convicted for the bomb attack attributed to the Real IRA.

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  • Last Updated: 15 August 2008 3:35 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Belfast
 
 
 


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