Kenny Condemns PSNI Car Bomb Murder

The North's Chief Constable, Matt Baggott is to meet senior politicians this morning to discuss the weekend murder of Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr.

The 10am summit follows the murder of the 25-year-old constable who was killed by a booby-trap bomb which exploded under his car in Omagh on Saturday.

Outgoing First Minister Peter Robinson, the former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and the outgoing Justice Minister David Ford are meeting with the Chief Constable just hours after the dead policeman's mother Nuala Kerr called on Catholics to keep joining and supporting the police, saying she did not want her son to die in vain.

Speaking on Morther's Day, Mrs Kerr said: "It's a sad day for our community. Ronan was a valued member and he had so much to offer."

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said it was a "heinous and pointless act of terror".

"Those who carried it out want to drag us back to the misery and pain of the past. They are acting in defiance of the Irish people," he said.

The Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty has said that those responsible for the murder of Ronan Kerr in no way represent the views, opinions or political aspirations of republicans in the county.

"There is no cause served by this action. No explanation can be offered. As a lifelong republican, as an elected representative, I can say that this act cannot be claimed in the name of republicanism, the people of Tyrone, or the people of Ireland.

"The only purpose behind these groups appears to be to carry out sporadic acts of violence as either a cover for their criminal activity or crudely to demonstrate that they can bomb and kill.

"The groups that perpetrate these actions acknowledge that they have little support and no strategy. They have no regard for the community. They have no regard for the wishes of the Irish people," he said.

The Alliance Justice Spokesperson in the North, Stephen Farry commenting: "The thoughts and prayers of people right across the community in Northern Ireland will be with the family of this brave officer.

"This was a most despicable and cowardly attack. It is more than just an attack on an individual police officer but an attack on the entire community.

"In turn, the entire community will be united in rejecting and thwarting those men of violence who are seeking to drag us back to the dark past from which society is emerging," he said.

"If anybody has any information about this murder then I would urge them to contact the police."

The murder victim is the second PSNI officer to be killed by the terrorists since it replaced the RUC as part of post Peace Process policing reforms.

Police Federation Chairman, Terry Spence, condemned the murder of the constable as cowardly and counterproductive.

"We will never be deterred by terrorism from doing our duty and serving the whole community," he said.

"On behalf of my members I call upon the community to help us bring these murderers to justice.

"Wherever officers serve they must be extremely vigilant about their personal security both on and off-duty."

Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed his sympathy: "I utterly condemn the murder of a young police officer today in Omagh, who had dedicated himself to serving the entire community of Northern Ireland.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his friends. This is a terrible tragedy for all who knew him and served with him, and for a town that had already suffered so much.

"Those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past.

"Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people from all parts of the community.

"I know that the Chief Constable will not rest until the perpetrators have been brought to justice," he said.

Against this backdrop, the PSNI have this morning been treading carefully as they undertake a security alert in Lurgan after a warning that a bomb had been left on waste ground at a disused factory in the town.

Searches are being carried out at the old Glendinning factory. Police say a number of homes in the nearby Allen Hill Park area may have to be evacuated.

(BMcC/GK)