PSNI Officer Killed In Omagh Bomb Attack

There has been widespread condemnation of the killing of a young police officer in Omagh, Co. Tyrone at the weekend.

25-year-old Ronan Kerr died when a booby-trap bomb exploded as he got into his car outside his home.

The Catholic officer was leaving to start a shift at Enniskillen police station when he was killed.

The attack is being blamed on dissident republicans.

The victim's mother, Nuala Kerr, has appealed for other Catholics not to be put off joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland by the killing.

"This is a time when we are striving for a neutral police force for the good of our country," she said, "and I urge all Catholic members not to be deterred by this. We all need to stand up and be counted and to strive for equality.

"We don't want to go back into the dark days again of fear and terror. We were so proud of Ronan and all that he stood for. Don't let his death be in vain.

"He had all the attributes of a great police officer - fair, empathetic, intelligent, humorous, a great communicator and loyal to all who knew him. And he just loved his work.

"I would appeal to the public for any information, no matter how small, about this callous crime. Please come forward so that justice can be done."

Mrs Kerr, who is a widow, said she was speaking on behalf of Ronan's two brothers Cathair and Aaron and his sister Dairine.

Aaron Kerr was travelling home to Ireland from Australia for Mother's Day when his brother was killed, and he learned the awful news during a stopover in the United Arab Emirates when he checked Facebook.

Police chiefs in Northern Ireland hailed Ronan Kerr as a "peacemaker".

The young officer had just graduated three weeks ago.

"My emotions are a deep sense of pride in Ronan, and the fact that he chose this career, knowing what the dangers were, that he chose to be a peacemaker and a peacekeeper," said PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott.

"We have lost one of our brave and courageous police recruits, someone who joined this fine service simply to do good, joined to serve the community impartially and to be someone I describe as a modern-day hero," he said.

Politicians from all sides of the political divide united in their condemnation of the murder.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, DUP, said it was "an evil act from a very small section of the community.

"They want to do as much as they can to disrupt our democratic process with elections underway and I believe the whole community will stand up and stand against them," he said.

"I think it is fairly clear that we are talking about a very miniscule group. Of course a very small group of people can cause a lot of chaos.

"But people can't carry out this sort of activity without somebody noticing what was going on. I do urge the community to give us the information so police can apprehend them."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein said he was "disgusted" by the killing, and said the murder would be rejected overwhelmingly by the vast majority of Irish people.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the killing as 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. They must know that they can never succeed in defeating the democratic will of the people," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he utterly condemned the killing.

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

"For our part, the British government stands fully behind the Chief Constable and his officers as they work to protect Northern Ireland from terrorism. And we, with our partners in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, stand four square behind the people of Northern Ireland who have said time and again they want a peaceful, shared future."

Northern Secretary Owen Paterson said the murder was "an evil act carried out by enemies of the whole community."

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said the US government "strongly condemns the appalling murder."

"The perpetrators of this cowardly act represent the failures of the past, and their actions run counter to the achievements, aspirations, and collective will of the people of Northern Ireland," she said.

"Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of this young man who lost his life because of his decision to serve the entire community.

"We echo the unequivocal condemnations by Northern Ireland's politicians and call on anyone with information to cooperate fully and expediently with the Police Service of Northern Ireland."