Omagh bomb atrocity marked, 28 years on
The deaths of 31 people in a brutal republican attack have been remembered on the anniversary of the Omagh bomb.
Yesterday marked 28 years since the Real IRA detonated a 500lb explosive in the heart of the Co Tyrone town on a busy shopping afternoon.
Unborn twins were among the dead, and around 220 more were injured in a day that shocked Northern Ireland.
Marking the solemn occasion, MP Carla Lockhart described the atrocity as a “senseless attack which only achieved heartache and left broken homes and hearts”.
She added: “Republicans unfortunately still laud and celebrate the people who carried out such deeds.
“We think of those who were left behind and still deal with the scars on a daily basis. We will remember them.”
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said "our hearts will be with Omagh” as the province paused to mark “31 people brutally killed”.
He stated: “Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and friends 28 years ago lost their lives on what was the darkest day of a troubled past.
“The pain and rawness is still strongly felt by the families and friends of those who died and by the people of Omagh.”
Adding that “the needs of victims and survivors” in Northern Ireland need to be put first when dealing with the legacy of the Troubles, he stated: “The people of Omagh have come together collectively regardless of religion, race or creed, and they have shown the rest of world how strength, determination, hope and rejection of terrorism has gotten our people through some of our darkest days.
“We remember all those who lost their lives and pray for their families and all those affected.”
BBC presenter George Jones remembered filming an episode of a TV series in front of 1,000-strong crowd when word started filtering in about the bomb.
“People started to disperse, totally shocked and bewildered at the news,” he stated, adding that he and his radio colleagues spent the subsequent week “trying to convey all the love, prayers and sympathy to the people of Omagh – not just from Northern Ireland but around the whole world.”
Victims group SEFF also marked the anniversary.