Omagh mourns bomb victim

Residents and their families were today reduced to near tears after a police officer was killed by a car bomb in Omagh.

Colleen Clements, 24, laid a bunch of flowers at the entrance to the modern Highfield Estate – where 25-year-old Ronan Kerr was killed – and her father Kenny Clements, 55, fought to control his emotions as he placed a poem in tribute alongside them.

Another resident earlier described the explosion scene as one of “total horror”.

Mr Clements said: “The real future lies with this next generation and people like Ronan. Those are the people that are really going to make the future here better.”

The farmer added: “They (people like Ronan) made the conscious decision to build their lives here and I think that is something we should be thankful for.”

He left a poem called “A Little Boy in Horning”.

One line in it asked: “How is the moon so gay and fair without his whistling on its air?”

Another said: “The world is calling, I must go. How shall I know he did not pass barefooted in shining grass?”

The bunches of flowers have been growing all morning.

Neighbour Charlie Dolan told the Tyrone Herald newspaper the scene of the explosion was one of “total horror” on Saturday.

He battled flames to get to the injured officer.

“I ran out and he was stretched out at the back of the car. It was just a scene of total horror,” the neighbour said.

“There were flames coming from under the car and we got fire extinguishers to try to get them out.

“I knew he was very badly injured at that stage and there was just nothing we could do to save him.

“Police arrived within minutes with more fire extinguishers and they eventually managed to get the flames out.”