Diocesan News18 Jun 15

Church Leaders Condemn Attempted Murder Of Police Officer

Church Leaders meet local Police Commander

Leaders of the four main churches in Derry–Londonderry have issued a joint statement condemning the attempted murder of a police officer in Eglinton this morning.

Three of the church leaders met the local police commander, Superintendent Mark McEwan, at Strand Road police station today to express their concern and show their support for the PSNI. The church leaders also issued a joint statement.

Joint statement from the Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown; the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good; the Clerk of the Derry and Donegal Presbytery, Dr Robert Buick; and the Revd Peter Murray, the Methodist Church in Ireland:

‘We are appalled at the despicable attempt to murder a police officer in Eglinton this morning, and thankful and relieved that the attack was thwarted.

There can be no justification for the attempted murder. It was wrong. It was evil. It was reckless. The police have said those who left the device endangered not only the police officer but other people living in the area.

Like the vast majority of people in our community, we had hoped that attacks like this had become a thing of the past. The use of violence has been rejected repeatedly and overwhelmingly by our community, so today’s attempted murder was an assault on us, too, and on our aspiration for a better society.

Our people want to move forward – together – towards a better and brighter future. The bombers seem intent on taking us backwards and keeping us apart.

They must not succeed.

We, as church leaders, offer our support and prayers to the police officer who was targeted this morning and appeal for anyone with information about the incident to share it with the PSNI.’