Adams appeals for calm

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has appealed for calm following this morning’s killing.

He has also appealed to all Nationalists not to respond and to show extreme restraint at this difficult time. Mr Adams has said that the British government must stop the Loyalist paramilitaries in their tracks.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has joined the Taoiseach in condemning the killing and the death threats that have been made against teachers in Catholic schools in North Belfast.

Mr Cowen called on all those ‘with influence in the community to use that influence to calm the situation’.