Joint Statement from the Bishops of Dromore on the Murder of a Police Officer in Craigavon

10 Mar 2009

PRESS RELEASE
10 March 2009

Joint Statement from the Bishops of Dromore on the Murder of a Police Officer in Craigavon

From:
– Right Revd Harold Miller, Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore
– Most Revd John McAreavey, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dromore
The cold-blooded murder of a policeman who has served the community for twenty years, while doing his duty in Craigavon last night, was a morally bankrupt act.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this cruel time.

Those who perpetrated this murder and other recent atrocities have nothing to offer the future of our society. Their ‘god’ is destruction. They are seeking to destroy the peace we are building – the normalising of cross-community policing, the cross-party working of the Assembly, and the desire to draw a line under thirty years of troubles. In fact, they will destroy only their own souls.

Our community will not allow them to succeed. By the grace of God, we will be rallied together in a new and deeper way. This is the time for every section of our community to make the message clear and unmistakable. We are not going back. Our future is going to be one of respect, trust and working together for the good of all.

ENDS

Further information:

Martin Long, Director of Communications, Maynooth 086 172 7678
Paul Harron Church of Ireland Press Office, 0044787 881582