Taoiseach Brian Cowen has condemned the attack on a British army barracks in Co Antrim in which two soldiers were shot dead last night, saying it was the act of a tiny group of evil people that would not be allowed to undermine the will of the people of Ireland to live in peace together.
Mr Cowen said: “We had all hoped that senseless violence was a thing of the past. Violence has been utterly rejected by the people of this island, both north and south,” he said.
Mr Cowen said he looked forward to seeing those responsible brought swiftly to justice.
President Mary McAleese also expressed her shock and dismay at last night’s attack. Ms McAleese said that her thoughts and prayers were with the families of those who had been killed and with the injured.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said: “Let us be clear. The targets of this attack are the Irish people, north and south.”
Mr Martin said the attack which has been blamed on dissident republicans was an attempt to undermine the progress of recent years.
“The perpetrators of this assault have no mandate. They will not be allowed to succeed. They must be brought to justice.”
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “We have grown accustomed to a peace that has allowed all communities on the island to look to the future withoptimism".
“This brutal assault last night is a throwback to a period that we all hoped was in our past.” He added: “There is no place in our society today for vicious attacks of this nature and I expect those responsible to be brought to justice.”
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the killings are particularly deplorable at a time when of power-sharing and comprehensive policing reform in Northern Ireland.
“I hope that the PSNI will get full cooperation from the public in their efforts to bring those responsible to justice. Democrats, north and south, must work together to put all paramilitary organisations out of business.”