Late priest who tended Omagh bomb victims remembered throughout memorial service
A
Catholic priest who tended to victims of the Omagh bomb within the devastating aftermath of the blast was remembered throughout a service to mark the twenty fifth anniversary.
Father Kevin Mullan, who died in May of this yr, was on the scene offering consolation following the dissident republican bomb assault, and supported bereaved households within the years after.
At the twentieth anniversary of the Omagh bomb in 2018, he challenged these accountable to return ahead and “step out of the dark”.
Standing on the website of the bomb on Market Street, in a strong deal with he urged: “Come you who 20 years ago did this to Omagh, please come back once more among us to this market place, which you tore up with your bomb, to this street and its shops where you left our relatives, friends and visitors broken, bleeding, dead.
“You were not afraid then. Come with your tears, and do not be afraid now.
“In your eyes we may read the apology of your heart. In our tears we may not know how to respond.
“We too must step out of the dark.”
He later instructed the PA news company that his phrases got here after 20 years of reflection and processing the scenes of horror he had seen.
Speaking at a service to mark the twenty fifth anniversary of the bomb on the memorial backyard in Omagh, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the many 29 killed, paid tribute to Father Mullan.
He stated he had helped “rebuild hearts and minds” of these affected by the bomb.
“We will always be indebted to him for the strength, compassion and courage he demonstrated on the day, and the months and years after,” he stated.
“Kevin was a visionary that saw beyond green and orange. It didn’t matter to him if you worshipped in a church or chapel. His wisdom and influence filtered into the community as he worked tirelessly.
“We will remember him as a decent and honourable human being.”