Press Releases02 Oct 04

Derry murder is "appalling outrage" says Bishop

THE DEATH OF DARREN THOMPSON "APPALLING OUTRAGE" SAYS BISHOP

Saturday 2nd October 2004

Having visited the Thompson family at their home this morning (Saturday), to sympathise with them in their loss, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Revd Ken Good, issued the following statement:

"The murder of Darren Thompson * is an appalling outrage. Such callous determination to end a young man's life, while on his way to work at Altnagelvin Hospital, is all but impossible to understand. There is a stunned sense of shock and horror on the Waterside and far beyond, that the escalation of recent violent incidents has led to this most dreadful of outcomes.

"Darren's tragic death has brought untold anguish and agony to his broken-hearted family. In their grief, Darren's parents add their voices to mine in urging that any thought of retaliation for his death must not be even considered. Their plea is that no other parent or family should be plunged into the awful turmoil that they now have to endure.

"Leaders in the community have rightly been appealing of late for calm, for restraint and for careful words and actions. That appeal must be heeded all the more at this time."

* Darren Thompson, from Harkness Gardens, was shot in the head in the Waterside area of Derry on Wednesday morning. He was found lying at the roadside in Woodburn Park with a bullet wound in the head. It is believed he was attacked as he walked to work.

Mr Thompson was in a critical condition at Altnagelvin hospital, but died of his injuries at about 2.00 p.m. on Friday.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers aged 15 and 18 and two sisters aged 22 and eight.