Police Officer Murdered, Craigavon
10 Mar 2009
A police officer has been murdered whilst on duty in Craigavon, County Armagh.
At around 9.45pm on Monday 9 March, police responded to a request for assistance from a member of the public at Lismore Manor in Craigavon. When two police vehicles arrived in the area and as officers alighted from one of the vehicles, it appears that gunshots were fired at them.
One officer was struck by gunfire. He subsequently died from his wounds.
Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Sir Hugh Orde has appealed for the community to help police bring those responsible to justice.
Sir Hugh said: “Shortly before 10pm officers in Craigavon were going about their duty, serving the public of Northern Ireland, answering a call for help. Sadly one of those officers paid the ultimate price when cowards and criminals gunned him down. I pay tribute to him and send my deepest sympathy to his family.
"His death comes some 48 hours after a similar attack in Antrim that saw two young soldiers murdered and four other people seriously injured.
"This has got to stop and I have a direct appeal to the community to help us to do so.
"We need people with information to come forward. My police officers are men and women from within this community – your community – who have opted to protect and serve you. They are your neighbours, he said.
The Chief Constable paid tribute to the dedication of his colleagues: "My officers joined the police service to serve the community here. Every day and night they respond to reports of burglary, domestic abuse, missing persons, vehicle theft, rape… the list goes on. Last night in Craigavon it was a call to a broken window. Such is the desire within my organisation to win the support of all within the community my officers responded knowing the threat to their lives was a very real possibility.
"But last night their commitment was met with the very worst in human nature. This morning the Police Service of Northern Ireland has lost an officer. But I say to you – the people living on this island – you have lost a member of your community. This was not only an attack on the peace process – it was an attack on the community here.
"There are people in the community who have information that will help us catch those responsible.
"Maybe you have not spoken to police before. Maybe, for whatever reason, you are suspicious or fearful of what speaking to us will mean. I say to you in the most honest and open terms - my officers opted to protect lives, in this, your community - by bringing information to us - you can do the same. I ask you to have the courage and confidence to come forward. Let us stand together for the future.
"Children today do not remember the horrors of the past. Let us not repeat that pointless loss of life with them. If anyone has any information – no matter how small – please bring it to my officers and help us stop the horror of the last few days," he concluded.
A major police investigation is now underway and we would appeal to anyone with information to come forward. Police can be contacted at Lurgan on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively members of the public can pass information anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
