Image source, Hawkes family

Olive Hawkes, 60, was killed while shopping in the town. She was the wife of a farmer named Percy.

Olive's family describe her as "the glue" that kept the family together.

Her death "ripped the family apart".

Olive's family say it took them "a long time before we could recall the happy memories that were replaced with the trauma of mum's death".

"Now we can cherish everything that mum and dad did to create our loving home and give us a wonderful childhood.

"We are so grateful that their influence has enabled us not to hold onto anger or bitterness and try to live as they would have hoped".

"She and dad were genuinely good hard-working rural people who, like so many others, did not deserve to experience so much cruelty".

Image source, Family picture

Mary Grimes, 66, was in Omagh with her daughter Avril Monaghan on the day of the bomb.

During her life Mary worked as a nurse and midwife and raised 11 children with her husband on a dairy farm.

One of Avril's children, Maura, 18 months old, was with them in Omagh - she was a "curly-haired girl with an infectious laugh," Paul Greaney says.

They were all killed, along with Avril's unborn twins.

"The loss suffered by that family simply cannot be imagined," Paul Greaney says.

Image source, Monaghan family

Avril had written a poem about peace when she was at school: "Oh that we, before it's too late, could cast aside the curse of war and hate. Then pray that conflict among men would cease and let the world rejoice in love and peace."

Her family thanks family, friends and community for the support they have given over the past 26 years - love and support which has "got us though the darkest and toughest of days".

Image source, Gibson family

Esther Gibson had turned 36 two weeks before the bombing.

"From her early years she showed a passion for learning and community engagement", Paul Greaney tells the inquiry.

She worked at a well known clothing designer.

She was a Christian who "found joy and purpose in her faith and taught Sunday School classes".

A family pen portrait is being read out, where they say: "At the time of her death Esther was engaged to be married...she was a young women with much to look forward to...she was preparing to embark on a new chapter of her life with her fiancée".

Her murder cut short a life rich in "kindness, love and promise".

Her family says, "she was deeply loved by her family, friends and community. Her absence is profoundly felt by all that knew her."

Image source, Gallagher family

Meanwhile, Michael Gallagher will give evidence to the inquiry about his son, Aidan, who was 21 when he was murdered, Mr Greaney says.

He was visiting Omagh to buy a pair of jeans.

Aidan, a self-employed mechanic had a "strong work ethic" and was "fascinated by anything with an engine or motor". He was the "joker" of his group, who "could not tolerate bullying or inequality" and stood up for the most vulnerable.

Mr Gallagher will speak of the hope in Northern Ireland by August 1998, that "the worst of the Troubles were behind them and peace was on the horizon".

He says it is important to learn from the past.

Image source, Devine family

Paul Greaney KC continues to highlight the victims of the bomb.

Breda Devine was just 20 months old when the bomb went off.

She was in Omagh with her mother Tracey who was badly injured, and other family members.

They were buying gifts and shoes for Breda to wear at the wedding.

Image source, Conway family

Gareth Conway was 18 years old when he was murdered, the inquiry hears.

He was about to start an engineering course at Ulster University.

Paul Greaney KC says Gareth's sister, Seaneen, describes her brother as "a young man with so much promise, kindness and love."

He was an "athletic young man who loved playing both soccer and gaelic football...his life was opening up in front of him".

Seaneen expresses her "heartbreak" that her brother was killed at the "moment he was looking forward to his life".

"His life may have be cut short but his impact will never be forgotten."

Image source, Cartwright Family

Debra-Anne Cartwright, 20, was working in a beauty salon on the day of the bombing.

She had evacuated the salon and was killed while walking down Market Street.

She was a student, due to start a degree course in Manchester.

A statement about Debra-Anne will be read out later in proceedings.

Image source, Family picture

Paul Greaney now tells the inquiry about Geraldine Breslin, 43, who was one of four sisters.

She was working as a shop assistant in a draper's shop on the day of the explosion alongside Ann McCombe. She was killed as she walked on the street during a tea break.

Her sister Rosemary describes her childhood as marked by "kindness and energy", Mr Greaney says.

He says her son Gareth says "nobody had an unkind word" to say about his mother and her life was "a life well-lived and she touched so many people's hearts".

He witnessed so many people at her wake, and realised the effect she had on so many people.

Image source, Family picture

Eight-year-old Oran Doherty also lived in Buncrana.

Paul Greaney KC says he was "full of life" and had been invited on the trip to Omagh by his cousin.

His mother Bernie was "apprehensive because of his age," Mr Greaney says.

The inquiry will hear from Oran's sister later paying tributes to her brother and speaking about that day.

She'll ask if those responsible "can sleep in their beds at night?"

"It was a despicable act," she will say.

Image source, Family picture

Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, was one of three sisters from Madrid.

She was on the exchange trip as a team leader.

She had come to love Ireland, Paul Greaney KC says, and was successful academically and as an athlete.

"She was a kind and compassionate person," he adds.

Later today, the inquiry will hear from her sister, Paloma. What she has to say is "deeply moving", Mr Greaney says.

Image source, Family picture

James Barker, was also aged 12 when he was murdered in the Omagh bombing, Paul Greaney KC tells the inquiry.

He had spent his early life in Surrey but his mother was from Londonderry and his parents moved to Buncrana in County Donegal.

James was due to go to Campbell College in Belfast, something, we later hear, captures the "sense of hope being destroyed".

A Spanish exchange student was staying with James' family.

His sister had been due to travel to Omagh that day with the group, but she was unwell.

"James took her place and in Omagh he was murdered."

We hear that James' father will give evidence later in the inquiry and he will say that "most people are fortunate enough to pass through life without the impact of an unforeseen tragedy affecting them directly".

Image source, Family

One of the victims was Fernando Blasco Baselga.

Paul Greaney KC is describing the 12 year-old boy from Madrid.

Part of a language exchange programme staying in Buncrana in County Donegal, he and others had come to Omagh for a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park.

"He was one of seven brothers and sisters and he was a good happy and generous child with strong religious faith."

He says a statement prepared by the solicitor to the inquiry will be read as "a starting point in the evidence" to explain "something about a life cut far too short".

The solicitor says: “When in a catechism group and asked what was important to him, his response was ‘to reach him’, pointing upwards to god.

“That is what he wanted for his future. He didn’t consider anything else.”

The inquiry was told he played handball for his school team and his favourite dish was rice salad.

His body was given a military escort home for his funeral in Madrid.

Paul Greaney KC begins to speak about those who died.

He speaks about the exchange group from Spain that were staying in Buncrana in Donegal at the time.

They went on a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park.

"They decided to visit Omagh itself afterwards in order to do some shopping," he tells those gathered.

He says: "A number of those who made that trip were killed in the bombing."

Resuming, Paul Greaney KC says if anyone has been upset by anything they have heard about the historical background that is the "opposite" effect that they intended.

He says the next stage of proceedings will be summarising evidence from commemorative and personal statement hearings.

Paul Greaney KC says: "The evidence that we will hear in these hearings will be induced in a number of ways...sometimes a witness statement will be read….sometimes live evidence will be given by a loved one".

He adds that evidence "will not be given on oath or affirmation".

"What we will say is deeply effecting and capable of causing distress - it's drawn from witness statement and pen portraits," he adds.

"We invite anyone in the room or those watching to think carefully about their wellbeing," he says, adding that those who want to leave or switch off the feed may do so.

The inquiry took a 20 minute break but the feed has now resumed and you can watch it by clicking on the play button at the top of the page.

Paul Greaney KC says "complex negotiations" led to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998.

Despite "overwhelming support" some remained opposed and to the peace process, he says.

The Real IRA, formed in 1997, included some reported to have been in the Provisional IRA, he tells the inquiry.

Because, he says, of the background of those who formed it, the Real IRA had the "capability and resources" to mount a campaign of violence.

From late 1997 up until the Omagh bombing, there were "many attacks and attempted attacks by dissident republican terrorists", Mr Greaney says.

The inquiry will examine what was known of those who carried out those attacks and whether it should have enabled the authorities "to disrupt their activities".

Paul Greaney KC says the vast majority of people from both traditions in Northern Ireland want to "turn away from the bitter past".

There is a "powerful desire for peace" in Northern Ireland, he says, which creates a "present opportunity".

Mr Greaney says it is a "critical time" in Northern Ireland's history.

He emphasises that the peace process will move forward or society could "slip back to the horror of the past quarter century".

"Rigid adherence" by political parties to their past positions will "simply continue the stalemate which has already lasted too long," he says.

After summarising the development of the various splinter groups within dissident republicanism during the Troubles, Paul Greaney KC says the inquiry will investigate whether the Real IRA benefited from "security normalisation" after the Good Friday Agreement.

"It will be important to understand whether that had any impact on the ability of dissident republican terrorists to conduct their illegal activities."

"If it did, the inquiry needs to understand to what extend and with what consequences," he adds.

"The activities of that group of terrorists, and the extent to which the authorities were or should have been aware of those activities, is critical to the work of the inquiry," he tells those gathered.

Identifying the number of people killed during the Troubles is not straightforward, Paul Greaney KC says.

"What is clear already is that there is no single agreed figure of deaths which is a terrible thought."

He adds that the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed four months before the bomb, led to a "sense of optimism that peace had arrived".

Also known as the Belfast Agreement, the international peace deal helped to bring an end to 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Paul Greaney KC says that the inquiry is informed by expert evidence received.

Prof Richard English has prepared a report on the history of the Troubles and Dr John Morrison has prepared a report on the development of dissident Republican terrorism.

"What we're about to say is a high level and we hope neutral and un-controversial summary of part of the reports of two experts," Mr Greaney adds.

A deliberate decision has been made to serve the reports at the conclusion of the commemorative and personal statement hearings to be sensitive to those preparing for the hearings, Mr Greaney says.