Just heard on the radio that there was a serious house fire in Omagh early this morning with a family of seven feared dead.
Shocking news.
Terrible tragedy indeed - their talking about it on Fat-boy Nolans show at the minute.
May their souls Rest in Peace
Heard this aswell there. I think it took place in the Lammy Drive area. Shocking news.
Two parents and five young children lived in the house but No numbers of how many have died yet.
Heard this on breaking news on SKY a hour or so back. Shocking how easy a family can be wiped out.
It states that 5 bodies have been recovered and they are searching for two more. RIP.
youngest child was only 6 months old and the oldest was only in P7... :(
I think it is the most heartbreaking thing I have heard on the news in a long time. May their souls rest in peace
Terrible indeed:
From the BBC
A family of seven is feared dead
A couple and their five young children are feared to have died in a house fire in Omagh, County Tyrone.
The fire service was called to the end-terrace house at Lammy Crescent just before 0500 GMT on Tuesday.
Earlier, neighbours put ladders up to first floor bedrooms, but were beaten back by the flames.
Deputy chief fire officer Louis Jones said: "In my 30 years of service, it has to be the largest loss of life in any house fire I have attended."
Firefighters with breathing apparatus were also beaten back by the flames.
It is understood the property was already well-alight when firefighters arrived.
The fire was so intense that the roof collapsed. It is believed the children feared dead range in age from an infant to a 13-year-old.
Parish priest Monsignor Joseph Donnelly said there was "disbelief and shock" in the community.
"It's hard to come to terms with the tragedy, that a family that was alive and well this time yesterday is gone," he said.
The alarm was raised at about 0500 GMT
Local councillor Paddy McGowan - a former firefighter - said it was "one of the worst tragedies" he had ever seen.
Mr McGowan said the family had lived there for about four years.
Red Cross emergency support volunteers have been at the scene, comforting neighbours and traumatised firefighters.
'Appalling tragedy'
Local SDLP councillor Dr Josephine Deehan told BBC News the community in Omagh was "stunned by this appalling tragedy".
"The mood here in Omagh is very sombre. Neighbours are standing round in small groups, some of them in tears," she said.
St Conor's Primary School near the house has been closed following the tragedy. Two of the children from the family feared dead went to the school.
The eldest girl, aged 13, went to a secondary school in the town while two other children were under school-age.
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly expressed sympathy with the people of Omagh.
At the start of proceedings, Speaker William Hay said: "I have to say I have been approached from all sides in the House on the tragedy in Omagh last night.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the particular family and their family circle."
First and deputy first ministers Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness expressed their horror at the incident.
West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said the scene was "almost beyond words".
"I spoke with the operational commander of the fire service and he said the intensity of the blaze was such that the whole of the inside of the house has collapsed in on itself," he said.
Heard the news on this morning and my heart goes out to them and their family. I pray and hope they find the strength to deal with the hurt.
Awful news. R.I.P
Absolute tragedy. RIP
Jesus, thats shocking. Used to live in that area of the town - just heartbreaking to think of little ones taken away in such a manner. Anyone taken away like that even.
God bless them all.
Awful, awful thing to happen. I feel sick thinking about it. There are no words.
Heartbreaking. Heard a first hand account on the news where a neighbour wept as he related that he was up at the windows and could see movement in one of the kids rooms but the heat was too much.
May they're gentle souls rest in peace.
I heard from first count that someone seen the mother upstairs with the youngest child, banging on the windows trying to get out. Hitting the window with toys and everything. Then the smoke got too much and she collapsed and not seen again.
Heart breaking as there was nothing he could do.
Ah boys dont be posting those whitness accounts, Its too much. I just read the bbc news report, im in a complete state of shock, cannot believe that such a tragedy happened anywhere, but in omagh.
Quote from: ziggysego on November 13, 2007, 03:58:58 PM
I heard from first count that someone seen the mother upstairs with the youngest child, banging on the windows trying to get out. Hitting the window with toys and everything. Then the smoke got too much and she collapsed and not seen again.
Heart breaking as there was nothing he could do.
f**k me. That's hard to read.
Unreal indeed. Really does put everything into perspective to think that a whole family could be wiped out in one go.
Very very sad , RIP
It's hard to contemplate. We can only wish their families the strength to cope with this. If it can be of any consolation, it may help to consider that people succumb very quickly to smoke in such a situation and do not suffer as much pain as we may imagine.
Words fail me.
Go ndéana Dia trocaire orthu
Turned the TV over as I couldnt listen to any moe of it, heart breaking :'(
An awful tragedy. It just shows, mind you, how dangerous some types of double glazed windows can be if you don't have an opening big enough for a person to get through. Otherwiswe you need a hammer upstairs in a place where it can be located in the dark and to be honest who thinks of that. We forget that fires can happen so easily. A friend of mine discovered recently that the heat from the inset lights in his facial board was causing the timber behind to scorch and could have caused a fire.
Words are not enough for something like this. Tragic, heartbreaking just don't come close.
May they rest in peace.
May they rest in Peace. See the media have release photos and names tonight.
Jezuz, the police are now considering that the house maybe a crime scene - possible arson - God forbid that this was a pre-meditated act.
It would have been considered a crime scene from the outset.
I live very close to it. Walked around to it last night, terrible terrible scene. Community is in total shock of it. There were more media vans etc than you see at a major football match.
may they Rest in Peace
Quote from: dodo on November 13, 2007, 05:50:53 PM
Words fail me.
Go ndéana Dia trocaire orthu
Quote from: balladmaker on November 13, 2007, 08:14:24 PM
Words are not enough for something like this. Tragic, heartbreaking just don't come close.
May they rest in peace.
couldn't agree more with these statements, what can you say at a moment like this.
May they Rest In Peace!
Quote from: 5iveTimes on November 14, 2007, 01:18:39 PM
How come the rescue services have only recovered 5 bodies? It isnt the biggest of crime scenes, surely they should have found the other 2 by now?
Would it be a case of there is nothing remaining to find?
Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on November 14, 2007, 12:24:20 PM
Jezuz, the police are now considering that the house maybe a crime scene - possible arson - God forbid that this was a pre-meditated act.
I watched the news last night on RTE at 9pm and they were reporting live from Omagh, both Barry McElduff and a reporter from a local paper were giving their thoughts on it. At the end of the piece the newspaper reporter made a comment about the PSNI looking at events leading up to the fire as well as the fire itself as the familiy were going through a bad spell the previous few weeks. I really don't know what he meant by that statement as it seemed a bit out of place with the rest of the report. Did anyone else see that report?
Terrible thing to happen irrespective of how it happened.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on November 14, 2007, 01:18:39 PM
How come the rescue services have only recovered 5 bodies? It isnt the biggest of crime scenes, surely they should have found the other 2 by now?
I cant imagine there would be a lot to find, in any case we will leave it to the experts 5ive Times.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on November 14, 2007, 01:18:39 PM
How come the rescue services have only recovered 5 bodies? It isnt the biggest of crime scenes, surely they should have found the other 2 by now?
Is the place safe enough to do such as search?
Quote from: J70 on November 14, 2007, 01:52:24 PM
Quote from: 5iveTimes on November 14, 2007, 01:18:39 PM
How come the rescue services have only recovered 5 bodies? It isnt the biggest of crime scenes, surely they should have found the other 2 by now?
Is the place safe enough to do such as search?
As far as I'm aware, that's what they alluded to on the news last night.
Now a murder investigation as traces of petrol have been found on scene. Gets worse as time goes on! :-[
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7094743.stm
Could there be any fitting punishment to the perpetrator(s) of his foul and evil crime?
7 murders - an entire family. I hope there is good solid cctv in the area to help catch the bastards.
RIP
How do we know there was petrol found ?
I saw that primetime show last night and there was a suggestion that they were having difficulties - I don't really know what they mean by that - one eyewitness said that they could see the parents - they beckoned for them to come out but they didn't - whatever the truth is, it is an awful shame - very very tragic case.
On news just now - "I can confirm that a significant amount of accelerant would found in the premises" quote from police.
Just found sixth body.
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on November 14, 2007, 03:13:52 PM
Could there be any fitting punishment to the perpetrator(s) of his foul and evil crime?
7 murders - an entire family. I hope there is good solid cctv in the area to help catch the bastards.
not in any normal society, SS!!!
all the bodies are STILL in the house....
'How do we know there was petrol found ?'
What I heard was that the firefighters who arrived on the scene first noticed a very strong smell of petrol.
Desperately, desperately sad
QuoteI hope there is good solid cctv in the area to help catch the bastards.
nothing in that area, town only.
Cannot believe, the news this evening.
Sickening, hope the bastards are found quickly.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on November 14, 2007, 05:39:15 PM
Sickening, hope the bastards are found quickly.
Sadly Dinny they may not be looking for anyone! :-\
Exactly gwee. If its murder, its murder of 6.
QuoteExactly gwee. If its murder, its murder of 6.
sad but probably true
Quote from: Puckoon on November 14, 2007, 05:53:01 PM
Exactly gwee. If its murder, its murder of 6.
Seventh body found
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7095050.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7095050.stm)
Very sad if what emerging is true.
Becoming all too regular
Ah for the love of Jesus, couldn't even imagine what brings someone to do that to their family (if that is the case)
Awful, awful tragedy, it was bad enough when you hear about it first, but you really wouldn't have thought it could be worse :'(
Quote from: Mac Eoghain on November 14, 2007, 07:01:45 PM
News has confirmed the father is the prime suspect
We're going to hear a lot more about this within the next fortnight. A sad, sorry story.
Something that really irritated me yesterday was the quality of UTV's coverage. Their approach was atrocious. The worst situation was when they collared a friend, a young fellow of about 7-9, and repeatedly asked banal yet excruciating questions. The young fella was in bits so the camera decided to zoom in with an extreme close-up of his eye-ball in order to confirm to everyone at home that this lad was indeed crying. Cos that's important. Then the journalist asks him after a few ridiculous questions, 'Can you believe it?' as if to put words into his mouth as he was finding it hard to even look at the camera. They then lined up 3 locals who were also in tears and proceeded to ask them questions such as 'How are you feeling now?' and 'Doesn't it make it worse coming up to Christmas?' etc.
UTV knew they had a heartbreaking story and went all-out in order to maximise it. I found it absolutely disgusting and offensive towards family relatives. Unfortunately that's the way now for commercial stations.
Agree whole-heartedly, this was sensationalist,gutter journalism at its worst, sadly U.T.V. were not the only offenders
Watching News 24 and they have stated that local people are saying that the father is the prime suspect, but the police will not be drawn on the issue.
Will the press now and try and find stories to fit the bill of a homicidal maniac of a father if these rumours are in fact true?
Quote from: ONeill on November 14, 2007, 07:46:57 PM
Quote from: Mac Eoghain on November 14, 2007, 07:01:45 PM
News has confirmed the father is the prime suspect
We're going to hear a lot more about this within the next fortnight. A sad, sorry story.
Something that really irritated me yesterday was the quality of UTV's coverage. Their approach was atrocious. The worst situation was when they collared a friend, a young fellow of about 7-9, and repeatedly asked banal yet excruciating questions. The young fella was in bits so the camera decided to zoom in with an extreme close-up of his eye-ball in order to confirm to everyone at home that this lad was indeed crying. Cos that's important. Then the journalist asks him after a few ridiculous questions, 'Can you believe it?' as if to put words into his mouth as he was finding it hard to even look at the camera. They then lined up 3 locals who were also in tears and proceeded to ask them questions such as 'How are you feeling now?' and 'Doesn't it make it worse coming up to Christmas?' etc.
UTV knew they had a heartbreaking story and went all-out in order to maximise it. I found it absolutely disgusting and offensive towards family relatives. Unfortunately that's the way now for commercial stations.
My thoughts exactly. They all went to extraordinary lengths to report on this terrible, terrible tragedy. Though I think all media were at this. I suspect they will now go into a feeding frenzy at every possible rumour and hype.
Actually I was going to post about the media coverage yesterday but I thought it might be inappropriate under the circumstances. I fully agree with the sentiments expressed about the media coverage it's absolutely disgraceful ans Good Morning Ulster is worst of all. In tragic circumstances they seem to concentrate on trying to get interviewees to break down thus addiing to the sensationalism. Disgusting.
Id agree with the posters that the coverage of this by UTV was base and insensitive - a new low has been reached by our self appreciating local station.
I dont like to speculate but when I heard it was a murder enquiry my gut reaction was "murder/suicide".
An awful tragedy and I agree regarding the coverage. When we see a crying 8 year old on the scene do we really need to zoom in on his face and ask him how he is feeling?
Its pretty obvious how he is feeling >:(
According to the Ulster Herald this morning, the father did 3 years for rape in his 20's. I hate to say it, but it doesn't look good.
Quote from: ziggysego on November 15, 2007, 09:57:09 AM
According to the Ulster Herald this morning, the father did 3 years for rape in his 20's. I hate to say it, but it doesn't look good.
Sorry Ziggy you have lost me here....but what the fcuk has that got to do with anything that happened in Omagh a couple of days ago??
I see the point you're making 5 Sams and that's fair enough. However I don't want this thread to turn into a tit for tat arguement thread like on the IFA v FAI threads.
just heard on rte tv news that the psni are saying all seven where murdered.
http://www.rte.ie/news/ (ftp://http://www.rte.ie/news/)
Re: the media coverage, listened to Fatboy Nolans show yesterday morning, he interviewed Michelle Gildernew, she (as a parent) was having difficulty controlling her emotions (understandibly) Nolan kept having long dramatic pauses, then an extremely long pause at the end, finished off by pointing out that she was distressed!! >:(
Absolutely disgusting.
The investigation is ongoing and it looks like the investigators are still
'trying to determine if the petrol was lit from inside the building'.
Im from the area, and the local residents are being hounded by the media for interviews.
The place is covered in media vans with the big satellite dishes. The two lads with the ladders have been their number one target. Apparently they eventually agreed to an interview after being tortured by them.
In the interviews it was disgraceful questioning.
Can you elaborate on what you heard? FFS how loud where the screams etc etc
Quote from: ziggysego on November 15, 2007, 09:57:09 AM
According to the Ulster Herald this morning, the father did 3 years for rape in his 20's. I hate to say it, but it doesn't look good.
A bit insensitive Ziggy, and irrelevant!
Well I did hear more connected to that Sandy, but I'm not going into it now, as it's not confirmed.
Its bad when Sky News is offering the best coverage (right words for this situation?) Their coverage was right to the facts of the case no interviews with the postman what ever .
From The BBC
Father is suspect in blaze deaths
The McElhill family lived in the end-terraced house
It is understood that police are treating Arthur McElhill as a suspect in the fire that killed his partner and five children in Omagh.
He died with his partner, Lorraine McGovern, and their five children, in a fire at Lammy Crescent on Tuesday.
Petrol had been scattered around the house and it had been set alight.
Police have not formally declared anyone a suspect, but it is understood one theory being investigated is that Mr McElhill may have been responsible.
The bodies of the family of seven are expected to be removed from the ruins of their home later and forensic examinations of the scene are to continue.
Police said on Thursday that all seven deaths were being treated as murder and they would not be commenting on the specifics of the investigation.
Community worker Gerry McCusker said this would be a difficult day.
"When the bodies are being removed, it is hoped that we will pay a prayer tribute to the family," he said.
The burnt-out shell of the house in Omagh
The eldest of the five children, Caroline, 13, attended the nearby Sacred Heart College.
Sean, 7, and Bellina, 4, were pupils at St Conor's Primary School and the two youngest were Clodagh, 19 months, and James, who was nine months old.
Schoolfriends of Sean and Bellina at St Conor's are receiving counselling.
Katriona McGettigan, whose St Conor's Primary School is beside the burnt-out ruins, said: "The children are very beautiful children. We remember them very fondly, they were a joy to teach.
"I would have only positive memories."
Mr McElhill worked as a stockman for James Crammond, who owns a farm just off the Dublin Road on the outskirts of Omagh.
"I would be totally amazed if they suspected Arthur," Mr Crammond said.
"He spent a lot of time looking after his family, some of them were not very well, heart murmurs, child problems.
"They seemed fairly close. He worked for me for five to six years when he was fit. He was a very capable worker when he was fit."
I wouldn't be knocking Ziggy here, but rather the Ulster Herald for printing what they did. I remember the time of that awful arson attack in the Keady area (I think) of South Armagh where a young man and his girlfriend were beaten, tied up and burned to death in a house fire. The Irish News reported that one of the alleged culprits was a cousin of an SDLP Councillor Sharon Haughey as if that had anything to do with the story. The local media are a shower of cnuts and Fat Boy Nolan is the worst of them all, with his 'we're the biggest show in the countryr' Hhe's right there mind you the biggest ego and girth, the lardy bollox. Mind you weighing in at around 19 stone and at a height of 5 -10 I'm no Twiggy myself but there you go.
I know its maybe insensitive but if it was the father, what made him think he was responsible to decide whether his 5 children should die? If he wanted to commit suicide he should have taken his own life. Perhaps he had some mental illness but in my eyes it is unforgiveable behaviour and nothing anyone says here will change my mind.
The RTE website is saying that the PSNI are treating it as 7 murder inquiries.
QuoteMind you weighing in at around 19 stone and at a height of 5 -10 I'm no Twiggy myself but there you go.
:D didnt expect to be gettin a laugh on this thread.
terrible tragedy, RIP
Quote from: Balboa on November 15, 2007, 01:46:27 PM
I know its maybe insensitive but if it was the father, what made him think he was responsible to decide whether his 5 children should die? If he wanted to commit suicide he should have taken his own life. Perhaps he had some mental illness but in my eyes it is unforgiveable behaviour and nothing anyone says here will change my mind.
To punish the mother?
If it was the father it's hard to believe it was an isolated incident of violence either.
Ah lads, this sort of idle speculation and innuendo is too much. Let's wait to see what comes out of the investigation. If it turns out that the father had nothing to do with it, I hope the likes of the Star 'Sex Perv Dad Killed Them All' are sued by relatives to break the company. Tony O'Reilly must be very proud.
Let's us not fall into the same crap.
If it was the father sure his head must have been away with it to do such a thing . God rest the family .
What´s the rush?
Can´t people form an opinion after the facts have emerged, it´s a good habit.
Some papers especially the tabloids feel that they need to sensationalise everything - It's a pity that they feel the need but I'm a bit surprised at a local paper like the Ulster Herald -
In addition I thought thec covergae on Tuesday evening by UTV's Niall Donnelly was nothing short of a disgrace.
Quote from: Main Street on November 15, 2007, 02:17:27 PM
What´s the rush?
Can´t people form an opinion after the facts have emerged, it´s a good habit.
Do you suggest perhaps closing this thread until all facts (which could take months) are released about the tragedy??? You could say the same about the Maddie McCann thread then if this is the case. Maybe you would rather us all hide away and say nothing..pretend like it never happened. You have to realise that when tragedy's & incidents such as this happen people are going to talk and speculate..its human nature. Its only when something like this happens so close to home that people get aggravated about media speculation / questions etc.. If this happened in England or France, people over here probably would not be so sensitive on the subject.
Terrible incident all the same, nobody should have to suffer this. RIP to the whole family.
Quote from: DirtyDozen12 on November 15, 2007, 03:42:58 PM
Quote from: Main Street on November 15, 2007, 02:17:27 PM
What´s the rush?
Can´t people form an opinion after the facts have emerged, it´s a good habit.
Do you suggest perhaps closing this thread until all facts (which could take months) are released about the tragedy???
Did I suggest anything other than forming an opinion after facts have emerged.
as AZOffaly wrote
"this sort of idle speculation and innuendo is too much. Let's wait to see what comes out of the investigation"This is idle speculation and innuendo over the cause of a massive tragedy
as
why did he do it .....
he did it because... discussion
even after RTE reported the investigation is far from identifying the cause.
I havent bought that rag since it spouted sh1te about Cormac Mc Anallan's former g/f.
It is such a piece of sh1te, I wish it could be boycotted nationwide.
Quote from: full back on November 15, 2007, 04:13:01 PM
I havent bought that rag since it spouted sh1te about Cormac Mc Anallan's former g/f.
It is such a piece of sh1te, I wish it could be boycotted nationwide.
What did they say about her?
If I recall correctly, it had a full page spread on how she had found a new boyfriend with pictures and all. Very invasive.
Correct AZ. I dont even know the girl but it was a disgrace
They had information on her new b/f as well in it
I mean, WTF?
I really struggle for words when nightmares like this hit the news. Each news report appears to bring more heartache, with it being reported tonight that the children's mother was twenty weeks pregnant.
How much more pain?
I don't know if it's me getting older, or greater awareness of my own mortality, or simply the fact that I have kids of my own, two of whom are around the age of the kids that perished. Maybe it is a combination of all three, but I increasingly find news stories like this both more depressing and indeed distressing.
The poor innocent children, who never stood a chance. God help them.
May They All Rest In Peace.
It just seems to go from bad to worse in this, each news report seems to bring some other gruesome story, wonder what ballox todays papers will report. >:(
This is an unbelievable story. The stressing of '7 murders' may be significant but either way some one deliberately kiiled that family whether they died with them or not doesn't change the fact.
I used to be a TV addict until I found myself in Boston during 911 and after watching days of reporters desperately trying to outdo each other with tearjerker interviews of the cutest 911 orphans, I gave up on TV. I still very rarely watch it even now. (Probably why you see me here so much)
The story 'family of 7 die in fire' shouldn't require any hack to try to show us that it is tragic.
Sadly we live in a society where grief is not considered to be real until it is visible, in all its tear-stricken awfulness. People turn up at scenes of tragedy,to be seen displaying their grief. Like the keeners of old they vie to outdo each other, in front of the assembled media,who exort them to even greater efforts, and feed their profits from the resulting frenzy which they use to entertain the dull witted,gullible masses. It all started with the Diana funeral. Alongside the media we have an ever growing army of counsellors, available to teach us how to feel, what we should feel, and how to deal with those feelings. In most cases they do more harm than good, but dont dare question them unless you want to be described as insensitive and unfeeling. I am convinced that the adult population of this Country is becoming more childish and immature which each day that passes. That why papers like the Star survive and prosper, and why we have we appalingly low standards throughout our national media. Sadly things will only get worse. The media circus will leave the sad heart wrenching tragedy of Omagh, when it perceives the public appetite has been sufficiently sated, and go off in search of new thrills. Not for them the serious business of analysis, they have a public to entertain,to teach how to think and feel in a right minded manner, and with the aid of counsellors if necessary help them to express those feelings. Leave the serious thinking to the older generation, sure no one listens to them anyway
Good post Pangurban - agree completely
Quote from: Rufus T Firefly on November 15, 2007, 11:21:23 PM
I really struggle for words when nightmares like this hit the news. Each news report appears to bring more heartache, with it being reported tonight that the children's mother was twenty weeks pregnant.
How much more pain?
I don't know if it's me getting older, or greater awareness of my own mortality, or simply the fact that I have kids of my own, two of whom are around the age of the kids that perished. Maybe it is a combination of all three, but I increasingly find news stories like this both more depressing and indeed distressing.
The poor innocent children, who never stood a chance. God help them.
May They All Rest In Peace.
For me it's the fact that you have kids of your own. As the father of 2 kids under 2 I would say that these sort of tragedies would have a far greater impact on me than before our 2 arrived.
I just wonder what else we are going to be horrified with from this case. Listening to Eamonn Maillie on Today FM last night just after 5.30pm he kept reinforcing the point that the PSNI said it was a really "gruesome" scene, and he explicitly mentioned that this "gruesome" element wasn't enitirely due to the fire ???
Agree totally Pangurban, i remember thinking when the whole Diana thing was going on and all the half wits were wailing at Buck House gates they ar ethe type that have the parents locked away in anursing home and never go near them or the type that have a loved one buried and the weeds are growing over the headstone.
I was abused by Omagh fire dad
Above is the Front page banner headline in the Belfast Telegraph!
Below are the related stories in todays issue - media fcuks!! >:(
Related Articles:
He was so violent. I was afraid of him all my life...
She just lived for her kids
Viewpoint: A terrible sadness over Omagh
Victim tells of murder suspect's harrowing sex attack
Belfast Telegraph
Friday, November 16, 2007
Great post Pangurban
as you said nowadays we have this programmed response that we are told how we should feel. these news stories are real but we then ignore reality under our noses. maddie mccann story! (people talking of her and then neglecting their own children)
when joe o'reilly was being hauled to prison there was loads of local scummers with junky heads cheering outside the court, wtf??
now here as you said it will be awful until the next big story and then forgotten about.
another thing that will happen is that this tragedy will be used as a political ball for the state of mental health while the family will be invaded.
there is always talk of boycotting tabloids but the problem is that most here on this board are educated and fairly clever, its the dumb asses who lap up the tabloid fodder, look at the ratings for im a celebrity for god sake.
Just when you thought the bottom might have been reached.
Pangurban, you're right. If anything, I'd be even more depressed than you about where the media are leading society. That's because there is absolutely no rein on their excesses and no force that can halt their greed-fuelled slide to the pits of crassness.
The taste of society used to be ruthlessly regulated by conservative forces - chiefly the church. When society kicked over the traces and defeated those forces, it neglected to replace them with anything. The inevitable consequence was that some controlling influence on public taste would come to the fore by default. Sadly for a society that despairs of the excesses of the media, that controlling force has turned out to be - yes, the media. It's a hopeless situation when the priests are leading the debauch.
QuoteThat's because there is absolutely no rein on their excesses and no force that can halt their greed-fuelled slide to the pits of crassness.
Is there a censorship board for the press? Can you complain to anybody about them, or is it a 'self regulating (hah) industry'?
I know we have a film censor here, but some of the stuff on the front pages of the red tops is more disturbing and dangerous than the worst gorey horror films.
www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/process.html (ftp://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/process.html)
Folks, there's no point in being upset about this - the only job of the press is to sell advertising. The regulators are us - don't buy this trash and it will stop, it's wholly market-dependent. Let's not be hypocrites, it's our job and the sooner we do it the better.
But Billy, they are all rubbish. I find myself buying the bloody English Times, and the Sunday Times. I want to buy an Irish paper that isn't a) full of tabloid rubbish 'news' and headlines or b) completely myopic in terms of it's political outlook and slant, such as the Independent or Irish Times.
Also, my shameful, shameful secret is that I also buy the Star for sports gossip. I never read the first 2/3rds of the paper, but I recognise my hypocrisy in buying it.
Problem is Billy, we are the sheep and the press/media are the shepherds. They have somehow managed to inveigle themselves into the position formerly occupied by the priests, to the extent that society takes its lead from them. They are now the priests and we always obey the priests. Until we reach the end of the cycle and some convulsion* causes all of society to lurch off in the opposite direction again as the eternal cycle continues.
* My guess is that it will be one of three things - (1) a fascist revolution of some kind, (2) Islam overrunning a Western society that has lost the will to defend its values or (3) China doing the same. Or it could be a nuclear winter, when the only military power in the world and the only one ever to use the nuclear option, does it again, in response to (2) or (3) above.
I know it's a bit of a leap - tasteless headlines to nuclear war, but sure it makes as much sense as George Bush, or the Irish economy, or the EU ....
If people started buying one paper a week to keep up-to-date (which can be done), and alternate between Indo, Times and Examiner (and quit buying the red-tops completely), they (the papers) will see huge circulation drops, and tunes will start to change. You don't have to buy a paper every day to keep up with the news, and even if everyone cut their spend by 20% it would cause panic in the industry. Start the campaign now.
Quotewe are the sheep
The sheep need to kick the shepherds into line - baah ram ewe, baah ram ewe, to yourself be true!
Spot on with your post Pangurban.
I see the Daily Mirror have excelled themselves this morning with their 'exclusive' on the front page.
Good post pangurban. Agree with bits of what Hardy and Billy say as well. I haven't bought a newspaper, bar the Times occasionally to read on plane, in about 5/6 years. I read bits and pieces of various publications online and NEVER buy a red top- Goes back to my old man who was involved in the printing game and refused to let them into the house. He was fairly perceptive in how he believed they would shape the decline of what he felt were fairly basic human values of decency, neighbourliness and honesty etc.
This weeks papers are next weeks fish and chips wrappers
QuoteI am convinced that the adult population of this Country is becoming more childish and immature which each day that passes.
Of course it is. There is no point blaming the media for what they print or put on TV, they're in a business.
Society buys this shite, it's society you should be complaining about.
Talkback spent the first part of todays show on the media coverage and todays press coverage of this.
Why?
Quote from: Pangurban on November 16, 2007, 03:30:32 AM
Sadly we live in a society where grief is not considered to be real until it is visible, in all its tear-stricken awfulness. People turn up at scenes of tragedy,to be seen displaying their grief. Like the keeners of old they vie to outdo each other, in front of the assembled media,who exort them to even greater efforts, and feed their profits from the resulting frenzy which they use to entertain the dull witted,gullible masses. It all started with the Diana funeral. Alongside the media we have an ever growing army of counsellors, available to teach us how to feel, what we should feel, and how to deal with those feelings. In most cases they do more harm than good, but dont dare question them unless you want to be described as insensitive and unfeeling. I am convinced that the adult population of this Country is becoming more childish and immature which each day that passes. That why papers like the Star survive and prosper, and why we have we appalingly low standards throughout our national media. Sadly things will only get worse. The media circus will leave the sad heart wrenching tragedy of Omagh, when it perceives the public appetite has been sufficiently sated, and go off in search of new thrills. Not for them the serious business of analysis, they have a public to entertain,to teach how to think and feel in a right minded manner, and with the aid of counsellors if necessary help them to express those feelings. Leave the serious thinking to the older generation, sure no one listens to them anyway
I think your being overly sensitive there, you had an illness , you needed them and they helped you but i read from Pangurs post its the counsellors on TV and the papers giving their opinions to the general public telling us what we should be feeling.
Girl removed from McElhill care
The McElhill family
A teenage girl has been staying with the McElhill family
Police removed a teenage girl from the care of Arthur McElhill in the weeks before the fire which killed him, his partner and five children.
Mr McElhill, a registered sex offender, is suspected of starting the blaze at the house at Lammy Cresent in Omagh.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust has said it has never placed a child with the McElhills.
It is unclear as to whether or not the girl was a family friend or had been placed there by another agency.
However, police became concerned after learning that she had been staying in the house.
Some horrific stories coming out in the inquest the last two days. Must be awful for the family to listen to the detail especially the 999 call by the young girl.