Killers of prison officer challenged to explain strategy

'When these factions carry out violent acts we get complete silence from those who at other times are only too willing to come on to the airwaves and attack the political process'

THE killing of a prison officer today on the M1 motorway near Lurgan has been condemned by Upper Bann Sinn Féin Assembly member John O’Dowd as “a pointless action” that will resolve nothing either within the prisons or in wider society.

“All it has done is to plunge a family into grief,” he said.

He challenged the groups responsible or their spokespeople to publicly explain themselves and their campaign or strategy to the community.

“Time and again when these factions carry out violent acts we get complete silence from those who at other times are only too willing to come on to the airwaves and attack the political process.

“It is patently obvious that the Peace Process will not be derailed by incidents like this. It hasn’t in the past and it won’t in the future.

“That is a reality that those behind these actions need to realise this and bring an end to these pointless actions.”