Rodney Patterson was standing about 40 feet away from the Real IRA bomb when it exploded in 1998.
Rodney Patterson testified at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, recounting how the 1998 bomb explosion, which he was 40 feet away from, drastically altered his life. On the day of the tragedy, he had been in Omagh to buy an exercise bike and get a haircut. The blast caused darkness and warmth, and he saw a woman nearby but couldn't determine her condition. Patterson stated the bombing changed his life, leading him to become an auxiliary nurse instead of a psychiatric nurse, and he retired early at 55 due to the bomb's impact. He emphasized that every aspect of his life since 1998 has been shaped by the bombing.
