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Death of Co Tyrone man who lost daughter in Omagh bombing

Godfrey Wilson (right) pictured in 2009 with Michael Gallagher as they campaigned for justice for their loved ones who died in the Omagh bombing. Picture by Paul Faith/PA Wire
Godfrey Wilson (right) pictured in 2009 with Michael Gallagher as they campaigned for justice for their loved ones who died in the Omagh bombing. Picture by Paul Faith/PA Wire Godfrey Wilson (right) pictured in 2009 with Michael Gallagher as they campaigned for justice for their loved ones who died in the Omagh bombing. Picture by Paul Faith/PA Wire

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Co Tyrone man who has died 20 years on from the death of his daughter in the Omagh bombing atrocity.

Godfrey Wilson (61) from Omagh passed away last Sunday. It is understood he was suffering from a brain tumour.

Mr Wilson lost his daughter Lorraine (15) when she was killed in the Omagh atrocity on August 15 1998.

She had been working as a volunteer in an Oxfam shop in the town when she was evacuated following the inaccurate warnings. She and her friend, Samantha McFarland, walked towards Market Street and were killed together when the bomb exploded.

Following her death, Mr Wilson described his daughter as "an angel".

Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed in the devastating Real IRA attack.

Mr Wilson campaigned for years for justice for his daughter and the other victims of the atrocity. He was a founding member of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.

No-one has ever been convicted of the bombing.

Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the Real IRA atrocity, said Mr Wilson had been determined to seek justice.

"It was a big void in his life, anyone would suffer from a loss like that," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Right up until he took ill, he was a good campaigner for justice for his daughter and the other people affected."

He added: "It makes me sad that 20 years have passed and he never got justice for the murder of his daughter. At least we're still here to fight and he was a big part of that".

Mr Wilson's funeral was held in Cappagh Parish Church on Wednesday followed by interment in the adjoining churchyard.

He is survived by his wife Ann, children Denise, Garry, Colin and the late Gavin and Lorraine as well as the wider family circle.