Paterson condemns murder of PSNI officer
Secretary of State Owen Paterson has condemned the murder of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer.
Secretary of State Owen Paterson has condemned the murder of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer today as “…an evil act carried out by enemies of the whole community”.
Mr Paterson said:
First and foremost my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of the young PSNI officer who was murdered today.
This was a cruel and evil act.
He served the community that the people who murdered him want to destroy.
There can be no more marked contrast than that.
The people in all parts of Ireland and beyond want peace and those who carried out this atrocity are in the grip of an obscene delusion if they think that by murder they can defy their will.
Tonight the Secretary of State spoke with the Prime Minister. He also spoke with the Chief Constable, Matt Bagott and Justice Minister, David Ford.
Mr Paterson returned to Northern Ireland tonight (Saturday).