BY MARK McKELVEY

DESCRIBED as 'tears from heaven' by bereaved mother Bernie Doherty, the incessant rain reflected the sombre mood of Friday's remembrance ceremony as families, friends and dignitaries gathered to remember those who were killed and injured in the Omagh bombing.

"I felt when the rain was pouring down that they were crying in heaven. I felt they were crying for us, crying for the families," said Mrs Doherty, whose young son Oran died in the blast.

Certainly, in contrast to the sunshine of that fateful day a decade ago, the heavens opened above Omagh, but this did not detract from the moving occasion as the local community once again displayed the solidarity and strength of spirit that has been so evident during the years since the afternoon of August 15, 1998.

In contrast, as Sunday's bomb memorial service began, the clouds parted and the sun shone down on the hundreds who gathered to remember the 31 dead and show their support to the injured and bereaved.

It was a peaceful, simple service that incorporated all aspects of the community. It was symbolic of the wide demographic spectrum of innocents who lost their lives and were injured in Omagh ten years ago.

The underlying message of the day was, 'to remember and to honour those who died and those who are still suffering.' At 3.10pm on both days, Omagh fell silent to mark the exact time of the Real IRA car bomb which devastated so many lives.

The poignant image of Friday's service was young children; some would have been barely born when the atrocity occurred. They scattered rose petals at the scene where the blood of the innocents was spilt ten years earlier in Market Street.

Demonstrating the coming together of the communities affected by the explosion, both ceremonies incorporated an interdenominational element with readings in English, Irish and Spanish.