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Outrage at PSNI officer's murder
Tuesday, 10 March 2009 07:17
There has been widespread condemnation of the killing of a PSNI officer in Craigavon Co Armagh.
At around 9.45pm last night, police were responding to a request for assistance from a member of the public at Lismore Manor in the town.
Two police vehicles arrived in the area. As officers got out of one of the vehicles it appears that gunshots were fired at them.
One officer was struck by gunfire and has subsequently died from his wounds.
The victim has more than 20 years experience and was well known in the area.
He is the first policeman to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 1997 and his death comes two days after the Real IRA killed two British soldiers in Antrim.
The Taoiseach said it was with deep sadness and disgust that he learnt of what he called the despicable murder of a policeman as he was doing his duty in serving the community.
President McAleese expressed her outrage saying those who carried out the killing and that of the two soldiers were acting in utter defiance of the clearly expressed will of the Irish people.
The Chief Constable Sir High Orde said the killing would not affect how the PSNI responded to incidents and they would continue to deliver their service to the community.
He said: 'We are used to being attacked, but we will not step back. It is a sad day for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
'Today a police officer with his colleagues responding to a call for help from a vulnerable person in the community was gunned down.
'This will not put off me or my officers delivering the service we do to the communities we paid to protect. That will continue unrelenting as it has done in the threat that we have been facing for nine to 12 months.
'We will continue to deliver that service regardless of the threat but mindful of it.'
Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (below) said he was sickened at the attempts by terrorists to destabilise the community.
He said those responsible would not be allowed to drag the community back to the past.
The Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said the renewed violence would not stop the peace process.
Local Sinn Féin Assembly member John O'Dowd the shooting was wrong and would not advance the goals of republicans.
SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Dolores Kelly, said the PSNI needed the support of the community to tackle those who wanted to turn back the clock.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy said people would not allow themselves to be dragged back to a darker, bloodier world.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html
Tuesday, 10 March 2009 07:17
There has been widespread condemnation of the killing of a PSNI officer in Craigavon Co Armagh.
At around 9.45pm last night, police were responding to a request for assistance from a member of the public at Lismore Manor in the town.
Two police vehicles arrived in the area. As officers got out of one of the vehicles it appears that gunshots were fired at them.
One officer was struck by gunfire and has subsequently died from his wounds.
The victim has more than 20 years experience and was well known in the area.
He is the first policeman to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 1997 and his death comes two days after the Real IRA killed two British soldiers in Antrim.
The Taoiseach said it was with deep sadness and disgust that he learnt of what he called the despicable murder of a policeman as he was doing his duty in serving the community.
President McAleese expressed her outrage saying those who carried out the killing and that of the two soldiers were acting in utter defiance of the clearly expressed will of the Irish people.
The Chief Constable Sir High Orde said the killing would not affect how the PSNI responded to incidents and they would continue to deliver their service to the community.
He said: 'We are used to being attacked, but we will not step back. It is a sad day for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
'Today a police officer with his colleagues responding to a call for help from a vulnerable person in the community was gunned down.
'This will not put off me or my officers delivering the service we do to the communities we paid to protect. That will continue unrelenting as it has done in the threat that we have been facing for nine to 12 months.
'We will continue to deliver that service regardless of the threat but mindful of it.'
Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (below) said he was sickened at the attempts by terrorists to destabilise the community.
He said those responsible would not be allowed to drag the community back to the past.
The Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said the renewed violence would not stop the peace process.
Local Sinn Féin Assembly member John O'Dowd the shooting was wrong and would not advance the goals of republicans.
SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Dolores Kelly, said the PSNI needed the support of the community to tackle those who wanted to turn back the clock.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy said people would not allow themselves to be dragged back to a darker, bloodier world.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html
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