Poignant service for Ballygawley bus bomb victims

SOLDIERS who survived the Ballygawley bus bombing over 30 years ago will join bereaved family members at a special memorial service on Sunday.

The August 1988 attack killed eight British servicemen after the bus transporting soldiers of the Light Infantry Regiment was destroyed by a remotely-detonated Provisional IRA bomb on the main Ballygawley-Omagh road.

Victims’ group, South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), has worked alongside local Ballygawley Road residents to restore the monument dedicated to the atrocity after it was vandalised in October last year.

SEFF’s director of services, Kenny Donaldson, said, “Once again, SEFF will work in partnership with local people to provide a service at the scene of the Ballygawley Bus bomb attack, perpetrated by Provisional IRA terrorists on August 20, 1988 and which saw eight young men murdered and 28 others injured to varying levels.

“This year’s service will be particularly poignant given that the site is being re-dedicated; a new memorial which remembers the eight 1LI soldiers murdered, four UDR soldiers (Thomas Harron, Oswell Neely, Ronald Alexander and John Roxborough), R/Con Joseph Clements and a soldier of the 16/5 Lancers, 2nd Lt Andrew Somervell will be reflected on the memorial.”

Mr Donaldson continued, “We are pleased that a significant group of 1LI representatives will be making the journey across this year from their various homes dotted across England.

“It honours the efforts of local people who care for the site throughout the year when members of the 1LI family visit.”

Interpretive panels which “explain something of the incidents” will also be replaced and a new wooden frame display for poppy wreaths and cross has been made.

A new seat has also been installed to “accommodate people to sit and reflect” along with bollards as an additional security measure.

Mr Donaldson said, “It is crucial that those impacted by the atrocity are never forgotten, nor the other innocents slaughtered on that road and in roads, country lanes, fields, villages, towns and cities across Northern Ireland.

“We encourage the local community to come along this year and be part of this Remembrance event. Come along and show solidarity with those who continue to bare physical and/or psychological scars from the horrors of terrorism.”

Those attending should gather from 10.40am onwards on Sunday, November 14 and the service will commences at 11am.