The killers of Constable Stephen Carroll have abused the term “patriotism” mourners at the PSNI officer’s funeral in Banbridge, Co Down have been told.
In his homily, Canon Liam Stevenson spoke of the many who had worked hard to build bridges and bring peace to Northern Ireland. The murders of PC Carroll and British soldiers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar had been designed to destabilise the peace process, he said.
He said: “We certainly do not want to lose the peace. We will not lose the peace because so many people are so determined to move forward. The people have spoken so strongly since last Sunday in many cities and towns.”
Condemning those responsible for the murders, he said: “The word ‘patriotism’ has been used in many different ways by many different people down the years. Tragically this word is one of the most abused words in the English language.
“In this very way, the killers of Constable Stephen Carroll have abused the term patriotism.
“A perfectly laudable aspiration such as patriotism is robbed of its intrinsic value when it’s allied to violence and death in pursuit of its objectives.” He said he saw patriotism more in terms of love of people, specifically, in Northern Ireland, the love of all its people.
“We all have to live in Northern Ireland, sharing our lives with each other, understanding and respecting one another, recognising, supporting and accepting each other’s tradition.
“The PSNI is constituted to reflect each main tradition. It represents all of us; it is essentially a part of us.
“An attack on the PSNI is primarily an attack on the whole population of Northern Ireland. We, as a people, were historically separate and divided; we are now much, much closer together, trying to understand one another and sharing political institutions.”
Canon Stevenson went on: “Our prayer today is that Stephen’s horrendous killing, whatever its intention or desired effect, will galvanise us in our pursuit of mutual understanding, tolerance and respect for one another.”
The Canon said so much had been gained since the signing of the Belfast Agreement. All fair minded people did not wish to see the progress lost or compromised.
He concluded: “Today is the day for peace. Let us concentrate our minds fully on building peace among people, let us not be distracted, let us not waver, let us not turn back, let us not lose our focus, let us redouble our efforts.
“A united people cannot be waylaid.”
The Catholic Bishop of Dromore, the Most Rev John McAreavey, delivered a direct message to the killers and those who may support them. In a statement to the congregation, he said: “You are greatly mistaken, your way of thinking is backward looking, the people of Ireland and Britain have chosen a better way forward, the way of reconciliation and accommodation.
“We are determined not to allow ourselves to be dragged back into the morass of hatred and violence.”
He offered the condolences of all four main churches to PC Carroll’s family and sympathies to Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and his colleagues in the PSNI on the loss of a colleague whom he described as a good and decent man.
The Bishop added: “We appreciate the often thankless work you do in our society and we pray that God will keep your personnel safe in the weeks and months ahead.”
At the end of the service, Sir Hugh made a personal and very emotional tribute to PC Carroll. He said he was one of the ordinary men and women who did an extraordinary job, displaying a willingness, bravery and commitment to serve the community.
Sir Hugh said he had been in his office at police headquarters when the message of the call-out Pc Carroll had gone on was flashed on the operations screen.
He said: “It was so incredibly important. It was a message calling for help from a member of the public and her children and the first people she looked to was the police service.”
Despite the threat to themselves, PC Carroll and his colleagues responded immediately.
Sir Hugh said: “The bottom line is, he knew in his heart of hearts, and his colleagues knew in their hearts, that they were going to a place where sometimes people try to hurt us.
“Did he step back? No. Did any of his colleagues step back? No. They went and they dealt with the call. Stephen tragically lost his life.”
In a pledge to the officer’s widow, he said: “He will not be forgotten, Kate, I promise you. My staff and officers will not forget what he did, I know the community will not forget what he did.”
He said messages had come in from the global police family and they too would not forget.
The Chief Constable’s unexpected contribution to the service was met with loud applause throughout the packed church.
PA