Fear on streets after N. Ireland terror outrage sees cop shot in front of son
After the cold-blooded shooting of an off-duty policeman in front of his young son, an air of sadness and dread hung over Omagh as people told of their fear that the violence of The Troubles was returning.
Det Chief Insp John Caldwell was at a sports centre on the outskirts of the town at 8pm Wednesday, putting footballs into his car boot after taking a training session for an under-15 team, when two masked men opened fire.
As he tried to flee for his life they chased him and continued shooting at him in front of his son as other children ran away, screaming in terror.
The gunmen fled in a car which was later found burnt out two miles away.
Forensic experts examine a car park at the Youth Sports Centre in Omagh where a police officer was shot last night (Photo By Justin Kernoghan)Mr Caldwell, a senior officer who led investigations into paramilitaries and other criminals, was in a critical but stable condition in hospital last night.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The New IRA, a dissident republican group, are the “primary focus” of the PSNI’s investigation. Three men, aged 38, 45 and 47, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They were detained in Omagh and the nearby town of Coalisland.
Omagh, in Co Tyrone, was the scene of a Real IRA attack in 1998, which killed 29 people. It was also where Constable Ronan Kerr was murdered in April 2011.
Det Chief Insp John Caldwell (pictured) was putting footballs into his car boot at the time of the shooting (PA)
Constable Ronan Kerr, who was murdered in Omagh in April 2011 (PA)People in the town fear a return to those days of bloodshed. On the High Street, those willing to speak to us were reluctant to give their full names.
Mary, 40, said: “There is definitely an eerie feeling around the town. The mood is very low. It is so sad.
“My own son has not known The Troubles and the children at the sports centre would not have any memories of that time. People are shocked and there is a fear in people. It is very scary. I feel for the man’s family. I just hope it is not starting again.”
Building worker Martin, 51, said: “I thought those times were over. We thought it was all in the past.”
Police officers and firefighters inspecting the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh, in 1998 (PA)Rose, 75, said: “It think it is terrible what happened. I hope it is not starting again after 25 years. To shoot a man in front of his child – it is truly shocking. It is cowardly. They have no respect for anyone or anything.”
Glenn, 43, a shop manager with three children said: “There is a feeling of disgust among the people coming into the shop, a fear we are going back 25 years. There is despair and disappointment that we are back to the past, something our children have not known.
“They have not known anything like this and now police officers are being shot taking children football training.”
He called for an end to the political vacuum in Northern Ireland, which has not had a devolved government for a year because of disagreements over the Northern Ireland Protocol, introduced after the UK left the EU.
Richard 'shuts up' GMB guest who says Hancock 'deserved' being called 'd***head'
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris during a meeting in Dublin on Thursday (PA)He said: “We are in a state of flux and it is not helping things.”
Mr Caldwell is a familiar face in Northern Ireland after leading many high-profile investigations, including the car bomb murder of his colleague Ronan Kerr by dissident republicans.
It is understood he has received a number of threats in the past, and a security source last night said it was possible he may know his attackers.
The source told our sister organisation Belfast Live: “This wasn’t just a hit on a policeman, this was a hit on John himself, targeted specifically because of the work he does, targeted because of the difficulties he poses for the people he seeks to bring to justice.”
Forensic officers from Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) at the sports complex in Omagh (PA)Mr Caldwell is under armed guard at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
The attack has been condemned by political leaders across the UK and Ireland. PM Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the “disgraceful shooting”, while Irish premier Leo Varadkar condemned the “grotesque act of attempted murder”.
In a joint statement, Northern Ireland’s political leaders from all sides said they were united in condemning “this reprehensible and callous attempted murder”.
Mr Caldwell, pictured in 2020, is under armed guard at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry (PA)PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said: “We are utterly shocked and angered by last night’s brazen and calculated attack.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said children waiting to be picked up by their parents when the attack happened “ran for cover in sheer terror.” Christos Gaitatzis, the principal of Omagh High School, whose students were at the scene of the shooting, said:
“I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the youngsters this morning, waking up in the aftershock of what they experienced.”
The New IRA has been blamed for the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry in 2019.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
