Geraldine Breslin, a victim of the Omagh bombing, expressed regret to her husband moments before her death, as her son recalls their close bond and tragic loss.
Her son, Gareth McCrystal, shared memories of his mother during a public inquiry. He described her as kind, genuine, and loving. Gareth recalled the moment he learned of her death. He was only 15 and felt it was torture not to see her after the bombing.
Gareth spoke about their close relationship. He adored her and felt she was a protective mother. He remembered their bond as fantastic and said she was truly one in a million.
He expressed anger over how she was treated by the terrorists. He shared that his stepfather, Mark, found some comfort in seeing her one last time. Geraldine even apologized to him while lying on the stretcher, feeling sorry for the situation.
On the day of the attack, Geraldine was working at a local shop. She had come home for lunch, and Gareth’s last words to her were as she left for work. The family faced intense media scrutiny after the bombing, which added to their grief.
Geraldine raised Gareth as a single parent until she married Mark in 1995. Gareth noted that Mark has struggled to find closure since the bombing. The attack changed their lives forever.
The bombing claimed 29 lives, including a pregnant woman. Gareth moved to Birmingham to escape the memories but faced challenges, including a drinking problem. He has since turned his life around and has been sober for over 13 years.
Now, Gareth enjoys a happy life with his wife and three children. He feels lucky but acknowledges that he thinks of his mother every day. He wishes she could see his achievements and meet her grandchildren.
Gareth feels privileged to be her son and cherishes the 15 years they had together. He knows they should have had many more years, but he is grateful for their wonderful relationship.
