PSNI Pays Tribute To Colleague
The Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has publicly paid tribute to Constable Stephen Carroll who was murdered in Craigavon on Monday night.
Speaking to journalists in the immediate aftermath of the murder he said: "It is a sad day for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and tonight a police officer with his colleagues responding to a call for help from a vulnerable person in the community was gunned down. He was helping his colleagues, dealing with that call.
"This will not put off me or my officers from delivering the service we do to the communities we are paid to protect. We will continue to deliver that service regardless of the threat, but mindful of it.
"These officers did not stand back. They did not step back. They knew a person needed help. Mindful of the threat, they responded in an entirely appropriate way. Sadly an officer paid with his life, protecting the Service, protecting the community which he knew was his duty and was determined to deliver.
"I am immensely proud of every single officer out there this evening and my message to them is just that. I know they will continue to deliver this service."
The Chief Constable expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the family.
Addressing the threat from terrorist criminals, he added: "These are criminal psychopaths, determined to wreck what 99.9 per cent of people in Northern Ireland want. Tomorrow morning when I go into work or when I leave work, Northern Ireland will be going about its business protected by police officers. You will see police officers out on the streets protecting communities dealing with the routine of policing which we do day in, day out. My officers will not be intimidated."
He concluded: "I am very proud of what every single one of my officers does every single day."
Constable Stephen Carroll was 48 years old and lived in Banbridge. He is survived by his wife, Kate, a son and grandchildren.
