'There has been too much suffering'

THE brutal murder of David Caldwell will only strengthen the resolve of the community to resist the evils of terrorism, it was claimed yesterday.

The murder would not further any violent cause, the Rev Jim Gray said at the funeral of the 51-year-old civilian construction worker.

He said: “It will only harden a determination to resist the violent overthrow of society. There has been too much suffering in our country, too many families grieving.”

Mr Caldwell, a former Ulster Defence Regiment soldier, died when he picked up a bomb contained in a lunch box at a Territorial Army base in Derry on Thursday. A private service was held yesterday at the father-of-four’s home at Eglinton.

The cortege then made its way to Gortnessy Presbyterian Church at Drumahoe, a few miles outside Derry.

Rev Gray called on the community to help catch those responsible, and appealed to loyalists to ensure there was no retaliation.

This echoed a plea by Mr Caldwell’s partner Mavis McFaul shortly after his death, when she said he would not have wanted anyone else to suffer.

However, the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters, has issued a statement threatening a “military response” to the killing. Mr Gray said Mr Caldwell was a decent man whose concern was for his immediate family and his elderly mother.

“He was a quiet man, respected in the community, who was taken from his family in a violent way,” he said.

The murder was condemned by the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty.

He said: “This has sent reverberations all over the city. Everybody feels under attack and under siege as a result of this because it strikes nerves which are rather raw at the moment.” It was also condemned by Mayor of Derry Kathleen McCloskey, who described the attack as “a cowardly and despicable act of violence”.

In response to the atrocity, Derry Trades Union Council has organised an anti-sectarian rally in the city, which will take place today.

Meanwhile, A republican group yesterday threatened to kill staff at two Belfast hospitals. The Catholic Reaction Force said it would kill three unnamed members of staff of each hospital with links to the security forces if they turn up for work today.

The threats, which were issued to one of the hospitals and to a Belfast newsroom, have been condemned by management and unions. The hospitals affected are the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast and the Mater Hospital in north Belfast. In a statement, management and staff called for the threats to be lifted.