OPINION:Criminal terrorists, not republicans, murdered the Irish policeman buried yesterday, writes ALAN SHATTER
AS EVERYONE reading this will now be aware, last Saturday, at a few minutes to four in the afternoon, an explosion rang out in Beragh, on the outskirts of Omagh, Co Tyrone. A young PSNI constable was killed, and another Irish family was left to grieve.
Ronan Kerr was a young Catholic man whose only wish was to serve his community – that he chose to do so by joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland is a sign of how far the people of Northern Ireland have embraced hope. That he now lies dead is a sign of the despair into which those responsible wish to drag us.
As of yet there has been no claim of responsibility for this attack. So-called dissident republicans have been blamed.
I say “so-called” because these groups debase both words. Historically, the term “dissident” was a badge of honour for those who opposed tyranny.
But the idea that the so-called dissidents are dissenting from is called democracy. Their campaign of violence is designed to set at nothing the will of the Irish people.
Respect for democracy is fundamental to true republicanism. The perpetrators of this attack need to ask themselves who exactly do they represent? At what point did their confused, totalitarian form of supposed republicanism become so perverted, so dogmatic, that its total rejection by their fellow countrymen and women became irrelevant?
In reality, the people who make up these groups are no more than criminal terrorists, whose activities are often inextricably linked with organised crime.
No one should be in any doubt about the extent of the involvement of these groups in a range of criminal activities, including robbery, extortion, smuggling and kidnapping.
To put it simply, on one side of the equation lies democracy, the Belfast Agreement and the clearly expressed desire for peace of the vast majority of the people of Ireland and of every political party represented in the Oireachtas and at Stormont. On the other side lies a small number of criminal terrorists who appear to believe that robbery and kidnapping are legitimate steps on the road to Irish unity.
Attacks such as the one that robbed Ronan Kerr, an Irish policeman, of his life cannot advance the cause of Irish unity.
The murder of Constable Kerr was not just abhorrent but senseless. It fulfils no greater purpose, it advances no political aim. Let us be clear about it – this was killing for killing’s sake.
And while it is right that we express our condemnation as strongly as we can, the unpalatable fact is that the people involved in these acts have so far proved impervious to the appeals of people from all backgrounds to stop the violence.
It is important, therefore, to offer reassurance that the forces of law and order are doing everything possible, within the rule of law, to take this threat on.
Earlier this week the Garda Commissioner briefed the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and myself fully on the security situation and on the steps being taken, in concert with the PSNI, to counteract terrorist activities and to assist in the investigation of this crime.
The Garda Síochána are constantly engaged in an intensive anti- and counter-terrorist effort against these organisations. And it is of course the case that the range of measures made available to the gardaí to counter terrorist activity – including for example the powers available under the original offences against the State legislation, such as the use of the Special Criminal Court – have been retained.
Over the last 18 months around 100 people have been arrested in connection with such activities. Forty-three people are currently charged before the Special Criminal Court. And 54 people are currently imprisoned having been convicted of offences relating to terrorist activity.
Let me put it as plainly as I can: we will stop at nothing, within the rule of law, to defeat these groups.
I spoke to Northern Ireland Minister of Justice David Ford last Saturday very shortly after this dreadful attack took place, and later that night to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson .
I expressed my sympathy to them for the loss of this young officer. I also reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting the chief constable and his officers, not just in the investigation into this tragedy, but in general.
I know that I speak for the Garda Commissioner in saying that we stand foursquare behind the PSNI. In this regard I can do no better than to quote the commissioner himself, who, after speaking to Chief Constable Baggott on Saturday, stated that the two police forces on this island are bound together by a shared resolve and determination to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.
There could be no greater contrast between the cowardly futility which these groups display and the brave words of Ronan Kerr’s mother Nuala when, at a time of unbearable grief, she concentrated on doing good for the community, just as her son tried to do.
She said: “We were so proud of Ronan and all that he stood for”.
So are all of us in Ireland who believe in progress and in peace.
She said: “Don’t let his death be in vain”.
It will not be. It has made us all the stronger in our determination that the evil behind it will not prevail.
Alan Shatter is Minister for Justice