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06:19 GMT, Friday, 8 August 2008 07:19 UK

Omagh families boycott memorial

The new memorial gardens, Omagh

The families of some Omagh bomb victims have decided not to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1998 atrocity.

A memorial garden will be dedicated during a remembrance service organised by Omagh District Council on 15 August.

Kevin Skelton, vice-chairman of the Omagh Support Group, said families were not happy with the memorial.

A council statement said it recognised it was a difficult time for them.

A total of 29 people and two unborn children were killed in the Real IRA attack on the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998.

The council said the ceremony would provide "an opportunity for the bereaved, the injured, the emergency and support services and all of those affected by the bomb to come together with the wider community in an act of remembrance."

It has also organised a ceremony to dedicate a crystal sculpture which has been placed at the site of the explosion on Market Street.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Skelton said: "I am not happy with the memorial garden, but what's done is done.

"I am not in favour of some of the characters that will be there.

"I can't stop them coming, I can't stop certain politicians coming.

"The politicians have done nothing for the families of the Omagh atrocity and it doesn't matter what side they come from. They have done nothing for us."



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Related to this story:
Omagh memorial in inscription row (18 Sep 07 |  Northern Ireland )
The 29 victims of the Omagh bomb (20 Dec 07 |  Northern Ireland )

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