Northern Ireland faces a turning point in history where it must reject violence and work for peace, First Minister Peter Robinson said today.
Speaking to Catholic and Protestant students school students in Lisburn, Co Antrim today In the aftermath of the dissident republican murder of two soldiers and a policeman, he pledged the future would not be dictated by "evil men".
“Every generation will find that there is a moment,” he said. “Sometimes it is called a turning point, a seminal moment in our history, where a decision has to be taken as to which direction we take.
“Forty years ago society took a turn that brought us into violence. There are people today, even after we have moved ourselves away from the bad, bloody days, who want to take us back. Some of them argue politically. Some of them use the gun. All of them are wrong.”
Last week the Democratic Unionist Party leader stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to show a united front against the dissident republican violence and pledged to defend the peace process.
Today, Mr Robinson remembered the thousands of people murdered and injured during the decades of conflict and urged society to rally in defence of the peace process.
“I said that this was a moment - this society has to decide in which direction it will go,” he said. "Where this province goes will not be dictated by evil men. It will be dictated by those who have good intentions and those who want to make progress and those who want to strive for peace.”