'You were just left behind' - Omagh survivor reveals his pain 27 years later

Rebecca Black, Irish Independent, February 4th, 2025

A survivor of the Omagh bombing has described the split-second devastation that claimed the lives of two of his young friends.

Shaun McLaughlin (12) and Oran Doherty (9) from Buncrana, Co Donegal, as well as bride-to-be Esther Gibson (36), from Beragh, Co Tyrone, were remembered at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry yesterday.

The probe also heard for the first time in the commemorative hearings from a survivor of the Real IRA attack on the Co Tyrone town on August 15, 1998.

It came at the start of the second of four weeks of commemorative hearings to give the families of the 29 victims an opportunity to pay tribute to their lost loved ones.

Ronan McGrory was left with serious physical injuries, but also with psychological injuries and said he felt like survivors were "just left behind”.

He had been among a group of schoolboys on a day trip with a group of Spanish students who had been attending a summer programme in Buncrana.

Shaun and Oran, along with James Barker (12) and two Spaniards - a group leader, Rocio Abad Ramos (23) and student Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) - were all killed.

The outing was to the Ulster American Folk Park just outside Omagh, but the leaders had agreed to let the children finish off the day with a look around the shops in town.

‘Every day I think about the bomb’

Mr McGrory said he had been 14 at the time and recalled a beautiful sunny day before the bomb went off.

In his statement to the inquiry, he said the only way he could describe it was like "being dead without knowing I was dead”.

He said he did not remember any particular sounds, just that he woke up holding a holy medal tightly in his hand and the day had transformed from beautiful and sunny to smoke.

Mr McGrory also said he did not think the boys who died would have had "the faintest idea of what happened”.

Later, in hospital, he learnt of the death of his friends on the television news, which he described as the "worst moment of his life”.

In his statement he said he was "overcome by instant guilt”.

"We were the older ones and we were supposed to look after the younger ones, including Oran and James. I remember crying inconsolably. The funerals had already taken place,” he said, and replied "yes” when asked whether the moment changed his life.

"There was never any help. You were just left behind,” he said.

Mr McGrory closed his statement to the inquiry by saying memories continue to haunt him and that he "resents that fact” that he had the chance to live his life, while Shaun did not.

"Every day I think about the bomb and it never leaves me,” he said.

"I dearly miss my friend Shaun and I resent the fact his life was taken from him too soon.”

He also said he was never able to get the names of those who rescued him to say thank you, and would like to thank them.

Across the day at the Strule Arts Centre yesterday, the inquiry heard from the families of the two young boys and Miss Gibson.

A statement written by Shaun's mother Patricia was read to the inquiry by her sister Marjorie McDaid, recalling her son as a happy boy who was excited to be going on the trip to Omagh with his friends. His mother then described the harrowing hours after the blast and the devastating moment the bus arrived back in Buncrana and her son was not on it.

"I sat and watched all the other children get off the bus, but Shaun never got off the bus,” his mother said.

‘Total farce’

The statement recalled people lining the streets of towns on the journey to bring Shaun's body back to Buncrana days after the bombing.

His mother also described his funeral as a "total farce”, as she expressed frustration that dignitaries appeared to be prioritised ahead of grieving families.

"There were too many important people there from the political parties, they all even had reserved seats, but there was no reserved seats for the three families who were burying their children,” she said.

Families of the Stardust victims will attend the Omagh inquiry today to support those who lost loved ones in the bombing. Among those travelling to the hearing is Gerturde Barrett, whose 17-year-old son Michael was one of the 48 people killed in the fire at the Stardust disco in Artane on February 14, 1981.

Ms Barrett's daughter, Carole, told the Irish Independent that it was important for the families to support one another.

"I think it's important to stand in solidarity with them because we've had a familiar road fighting for truth and justice, and no one should have to fight for truth and justice, it should be forthcoming,” she said.

Comment

These updates are very important.   The approach of the inquiry is very impressive and I think innovative.

What I mean specifically is that survivor or family stories are hugely important as of course is getting to the Truth one way or another. But the collection of the stories with details like the mess-up of the funeral putting the powerful first, the irrational but real feeling of guilt, the recollection in the every day, the desire to publicly thank ( the dignity!) and opportunity to do it are all so important.

There is no reason whatsoever why both Governments could not immediately put such a system in place for all victims and families and the debate about Truth-finding mechanisms can go on - hopefully not for much longer.

But “Every voice heard and Now!”