Up to 700 people may have to be helped by the memorial fund set up in the aftermath of the bomb atrocity in Omagh. Contributions to the fund are soon expected to pass £1 million sterling, the newly appointed trustees said yesterday.
At the official launch of the fund in Omagh, the chairman, Mr Sean O'Dwyer, said between 450 and 700 beneficiaries could expect to receive a portion of the total amount.
"There is an enormous amount of work that has to be done and we must get on with it and fast. There can be no excuses for us not helping people quickly," said Mr O'Dwyer. He confirmed that the fund would make initial payments to those most in need.
The fund manager, Mr Brian Oliphant, said he had made reference to a figure of £12 million in previous interviews but he admitted this had been "off the top of my head". A total of £165,000 is lodged in the fund's account, with £46,000 having already been distributed to claimants and, according to Mr Oliphant, an additional £1,275,000 has been pledged.
Mr O'Dwyer said the fund would act with maximum speed, especially with regard to initial payments and administration costs would be kept to an absolute minimum. Payments would be made in the manner most helpful to the beneficiaries and distributions would be calculated on assessment of individual needs. The trustees would not meet individual claimants.
The Duke of Abercorn said the Omagh fund had become international. "Having studied the response to the appeal in Bradford and others on the mainland, I believe it has different dimensions. It could prove to be the most emotional global fund of all time," he said.
Dr Aideen McGinley said the trustees had been assured by compensation agencies that fund awards would not affect any compensation payments. Mr Oliphant said social services and hospitals had suffered a tremendous financial burden.
A fund-raising dinner organised by the Republic's grocers raised more than £110,000 for the fund.