A GARRISON woman who works for the Red Cross has spent five “very emotional” days in Manchester providing support for families directly affected by the devastating bomb in the city that claimed the lives of 22 people.

Nicola Reid, who manages the Red Cross’s Neigbourhood Links service in Fermanagh, happened to be in the city for a work meeting in the days after the terror attack on the Manchester Arena, carried out by suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

The mother-of-two was asked to stay on for five days, along with colleagues from Belfast and Omagh, to help coordinate some of the Red Cross support services that were being offered to people directly affected at locations across the city.

Mrs. Reid said: “We helped with many of the practical and logistical arrangements that go on behind the scenes of an emergency, from organising transport for family members to setting up a rest area for local Red Cross staff and volunteers, who were working extremely long hours supporting those affected.

“Small things, like having food, water and phone chargers on hand for people, made a big difference in terms of helping them avoid additional stress.

“We worked closely with the police, counsellors and other professionals who are so compassionate and make such a difference to those experiencing a sudden crisis.

“At times like this it’s really important to shield the families from what’s going on outside and to create a safe space for them.”

Mrs. Reid said that Northern Ireland was never far from her mind during her few days in Manchester, which prompted thoughts of an earlier atrocity much closer to home.

“Of course, I was with a colleague from Omagh and I work a lot in the Red Cross office in Omagh, so I thought about Omagh a lot, and the trauma that people have gone through.

“I just felt privileged to be able to help those affected in Manchester, in some small way, and to act out the Red Cross principles of humanity and universality, beyond my normal, day-to-day role,” she added.