The Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady has condemned recent attacks on members of the PSNI as "a direct attack on the right to life". Speaking yesterday after the first meeting of the Northern bishops since his elevation to the College of Cardinals, he urged people to unite in rejecting the activity of those who resort to violence for political ends in Northern Ireland.
He said "recent attacks on members of the PSNI are a direct attack on the right to life and the freedom of all to play their part in the new, agreed institutions of Northern Ireland. Such activity should be condemned by all those who have the good of our society at heart."
Calling on people to demonstrate their support for the PSNI, the ambulance service, the fire service and all those who provide essential services to the community, he continued: "The police and those who provide essential emergency services deserve the support of the whole community and attacks against them are attacks against us all."
He appealed "to anyone who has information about such attacks, whether they are on police officers, ambulance drivers, fire service or medical personnel, to bring it to the police".
Cardinal Brady concluded by offering the prayer, support and good wishes of all of the Northern bishops to the two PSNI officers who were shot and injured recently in Derry and Dungannon and to their families.