Support group for road death bereaved to host Omagh meeting

THE Life After support group has helped dozens of bereaved families across the North manage the trauma of losing a loved one in a road traffic collision (RTC).

Next Tuesday, October 18, they will be hosting a further meeting at the Omagh Community House from 7-9pm.

Every year, far too many lives are cut tragically short on the roads of West Tyrone, leaving heartbroken parents, partners, siblings and friends behind, struggling to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

In 2017, Life After was formed so people would not have go through this painful grieving process alone.

The charity is built upon the ethos that those with direct experience of losing someone in a RTC are best equipped to support others who find themselves affected by this same horrific tragedy.

Marie O’Brien, secretary of Life After, lost her daughter, Caoimhe, in a RTC in 2016. Caoimhe was only 23-years-old. Soon after, Marie lost her brother-in-law, Eugene O’Brien.

Marie told the UH she had initially felt like her world had ended when Caoimhe was killed.

“I felt totally lost and thought that I had nobody – I was suicidal.”

But, after some time, Marie sought help from Life After who, at the time, were operating only in Derry.

“I remember after the first meeting thinking that this was not for me – I was roaring and crying. I thought I would never be back.”

But a month later, Marie found herself at another meeting.

“Everybody there knows exactly what you are going through, so they know how to listen, and they understand that their words might not be of any use to you, because really there are no words, sometimes there is nothing anyone can say. But what they can do is listen and genuinely understand the hurt you are going through. You are never going to get over it, but they can help you get through it.”

Attending more meetings, and getting to make genuine friends within the organisation, Marie began finding herself supporting others as well receiving support herself.

“At its heart, Life After is families helping families. It’s people who share a terrible thing in common, listening and talking with each other.” said Marie.

If you or somebody you know has lost a loved one in a RTC, you are most welcome to attend the meeting at Omagh Community House next Tuesday, October 18 at 7pm.