The inquiry revealed that Debra-Anne Cartwright’s exam results came on the day of her funeral, highlighting the tragedy of her untimely death in the Omagh bombing.
The inquiry’s third day honored Debra-Anne, who was just 20 years old. The Real IRA attack on August 15 killed 29 people, including a pregnant woman.
Debra-Anne had just finished her A-levels and wanted to study textile design at Manchester University. Her family shared that her results confirmed she had been successful.
On the day of the bombing, she was working at a beauty salon in town. She evacuated during a security alert but was walking down Market Street when the bomb exploded.
During her funeral at St Columba’s Church, it was noted that she was full of life and energy. The inquiry chairman, Lord Turnbull, reflected on the loss of young lives in the bombing.
He emphasized the cruel denial of their futures, especially for Debra-Anne, who received her exam results on the day of her funeral. These results could have opened a new world of opportunities for her.
