Siblings shared memories of their mother, Olive Hawkes, a bombing victim. They spoke of her love and the grief caused by her tragic, cruel death.
Beth McMullan read a statement in court on Tuesday. She spoke for Mark and Mandy, Olive’s children. The siblings remembered their caring mother, recalling a childhood filled with joy.
Mark and Mandy explained that their mother managed their home. Their father was happy with this arrangement, and they said they were truly a perfect match. Their childhood was full of love, and there was always laughter in their home.
She handled farm books for her husband and also helped with farm work, caring for both livestock and land. Olive enjoyed fashion and shopping, with baking and gardening among her passions. Holding their close family together, they felt lucky to have her.
Mark remembered the day of the bombing when she left Maine, their home, to shop in Omagh. He had just returned from the Czech Republic and washed his lorry as she left.
Their father heard about the explosion at the mart and felt something bad had happened to Olive, fearing she was in Omagh. Mark said they struggle with his search for her.
Mandy went to identify her mother’s body at a morgue, joined by other family members. They did not see their mum; staff showed them gold shoes instead. Mark knew she wore those shoes.
Fingerprints confirmed her identity at last, a harsh truth that made grief even worse. The siblings described how their loss impacted them.
Their family shattered on August 15, 1998. They are always traumatized by how she died, changing their lives and who they are.
Happy memories were first replaced by pain. Now, they cherish their loving upbringing and appreciate all their parents provided. They choose to live without anger, trying to be the people their parents wanted them to be.
Olive overcame hardships when she was younger and found much happiness later with her family. Her and her husband did not deserve such pain.
