Statement by Bishop Séamus Hegarty on the killing of Ciaran Doherty
I was shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing of Ciaran Doherty whose body was found late last night in Derry.
My prayers and thoughts are with Ciaran’s family and friends at the huge loss they are suffering.
The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred from the moment of conception to the natural end of life. This killing flies in the face of the teaching of Christ and is a profound rejection of all that is Christian.
Irrespective of excuses proposed by those who take human life, the killing of a person is always wrong.
Our society has a tragic history of violence. Due to this history, we, more than many other societies, should appreciate that any attempt to drag us back to a bloody past is wrong.
A peaceful society depends upon normal policing and justice. We have taken great strides in that direction. It is the duty of anyone with information relating to this brutal killing to pass it to the PSNI.
Our society will only be safe when processes of law and order are permitted to take their course.
Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer, 087 310 4444