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Meeting over Omagh memorial wait Meeting over Omagh memorial wait
(10 minutes later)
Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims are to meet Victims' Minister David Hanson to discuss the length of time it has taken to erect a memorial stone.Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims are to meet Victims' Minister David Hanson to discuss the length of time it has taken to erect a memorial stone.
The memorial has been planned for several years.The memorial has been planned for several years.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the explosion, said action needed to be taken to have the memorial put in place.Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the explosion, said action needed to be taken to have the memorial put in place.
He said the hold-up was because the Sinn Fein dominated council objected to the wording for the memorial.He said the hold-up was because the Sinn Fein dominated council objected to the wording for the memorial.
Mr Gallagher said difficulties first surfaced when they presented their form of words to a special working grouping involving Omagh District Council representatives earlier this year.Mr Gallagher said difficulties first surfaced when they presented their form of words to a special working grouping involving Omagh District Council representatives earlier this year.
He said: "They thanked us and then at the next meeting said it's better to broaden this out for consultation and better to have widespread public support.He said: "They thanked us and then at the next meeting said it's better to broaden this out for consultation and better to have widespread public support.
WordingWording
"The real reason is because the council is not willing to accept wording on the stone that states the facts of what happened on August 15 1998.""The real reason is because the council is not willing to accept wording on the stone that states the facts of what happened on August 15 1998."
The words proposed for the monument were to read: "To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured from three nations by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb."The words proposed for the monument were to read: "To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured from three nations by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb."
"We're talking about a Sinn Fein-controlled council, and they are not going to have it, or it would have happened," Mr Gallagher added."We're talking about a Sinn Fein-controlled council, and they are not going to have it, or it would have happened," Mr Gallagher added.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey, who has met with the Omagh families, said all the families wanted was a simple plaque at the point where the blast occurred.Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey, who has met with the Omagh families, said all the families wanted was a simple plaque at the point where the blast occurred.
"Nobody is actually suggesting that the Provisional republican movement did it. The victims' group isn't suggesting that," he said."Nobody is actually suggesting that the Provisional republican movement did it. The victims' group isn't suggesting that," he said.
"But the fact is there's resistance to the wording and it's merely prolonging their agony and not helping their healing."But the fact is there's resistance to the wording and it's merely prolonging their agony and not helping their healing.
"They should be entitled to have a simple memorial.""They should be entitled to have a simple memorial."
In a statement, Omagh District Council said the working group believed "it was essential to create a memorial which would be "valued and respected by the whole community". In a statement, Omagh District Council said the working group believed "it was essential to create a memorial which would be valued and respected by the whole community".
"This process has been a long term project which has been sensitive to the healing process within the community," it continued."This process has been a long term project which has been sensitive to the healing process within the community," it continued.
"It is proposed that the memorial will be completed in time for the tenth anniversary on 15 August 2008 which will be a fitting date for the unveiling.""It is proposed that the memorial will be completed in time for the tenth anniversary on 15 August 2008 which will be a fitting date for the unveiling."
Twenty nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died in the explosion on 15 August 1998.Twenty nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died in the explosion on 15 August 1998.