Catholic bishops have welcomed “the spontaneous expressions of unity across the community” following Saturday’s killing of two young British soldiers.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference today condemned the attack, describing it as “a direct and heinous attack on the sanctity of human life and on efforts to build an agreed political way forward in Northern Ireland”.
A spokesman said: “The people of Ireland have overwhelmingly rejected the use of violence as a means of achieving political ends. Those who propose any other way wreck our future and destroy hope.
“We welcome the spontaneous prayerful expressions of unity across the community which followed the attack.”
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of the two army personnel who were so brutally murdered. We commend those injured in the attack to the prayers of all.
“We call on all citizens to redouble their efforts to build a peaceful society which pursues justice and reconciliation through the patient dialogue of the political process.”
The Bishops appealed to everyone who has information which might help to bring to justice those involved to give it to the police.
Earlier Minister for Foreign Affairs Michéal Martin today said the way in which the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attacks was contemptible.
A representative of the dissident republican group yesterday telephoned The Sunday Tribunenewspaper and informed it that its members had carried out the shootings.
“The nature of the admission from the Real IRA was contemptible,” said Mr Martin.
The minister, who was speaking in his Cork constituency, added: “The Garda and the PSNI are of the one view that there is an increased threat from dissident activity and this threat has to be responded to.”
Mr Martin added that the Irish and British governments have remained in constant contact since the attacks on Saturday night and that he was also receiving regular briefings from officials.