Cross-community revulsion at murder

THE North’s first and deputy first ministers issued a joint statement to symbolise the cross-community revulsion at the murder of Ronan Kerr.

First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson urged Catholics not to be deterred from joining the PSNI.

“To plant a bomb under the car of a defenceless policeman is the type of cowardly act of murder that we had hoped we had seen the last of,” he said.

“This attack is intended to deter young Catholics from joining the police and I urge them not to be deterred by those who have nothing to offer our society.

“Those who perpetrated this act hoped to destabilise our community in the run-up to the local elections in May. I would like to take this opportunity to send them a very clear message: the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland are stronger today than they have been at any other time in our history. The people of Northern Ireland have rejected violence and this act will not further the cause of dissidents one iota.”

Deputy First Minister and Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said those who had carried out the murder had “betrayed the community and set themselves against the will of the people of Ireland”.

He added: “While those behind this act seek to promote division and conflict, let us state clearly they will fail. The process of peace building will continue and the community is united in rejection of them.”

President Mary McAleese said she was shocked and saddened by the murder.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the killers were “acting in defiance” of the Irish people.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said: “This is an attack on the Irish people and is designed to undermine the peace and reconciliation and progress of recent decades.

“The evil perpetrators of this act must be brought to justice and deserve no sanctuary.”

Ulster GAA president Aogan O’Fearghail and Tyrone GAA chairman Ciaran Mac Lochlainn said: “It is difficult to comprehend how a young man with the best interests of a community at heart, having contributed so positively to our community, could have been attacked in this way.

“His death demeans humanity and is detrimental to the development of a shared future based on mutual respect.”