'Stop' Plea As Murdered PSNI Man Buried

The Gaelic Athletic Association and the PSNI have joined forces to form a guard of honour as murdered policeman, Ronan Kerr, was buried today.

And, as the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland told mourners at the funeral of Constable Kerr his murder was "an evil deed, an offence against God", this show of unity was just one of a series of political 'firsts' also taking place.

Listening to Cardinal Sean Brady address the killers with the words: "We do not want this. In God's name stop - and stop now" was the Irish Premier, Enda Kenny, who was attending the funeral alongside Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson.

"The DUP Leader was in a Roman Catholic chapel today having said he wished to attend "and convey my respect(s) for a brave young policeman".

The PSNI man's Catholic funeral service was also attended by the Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Tom Elliott, the Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness - who has never been at a policeman's funeral - several NI church leaders and the Irish opposition leader Micheal Martin.

Ulster Unionist Leader Tom Elliott has already condemned the appearance of offensive graffiti regarding the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr.

It was scrawled on a pub wall in the Bogside area of Londonderry.

As he prepared to attend the Church of St Patrick in Drumduff, near Beragh, Mr Elliott said of the now-removed mocking words: "This graffiti is absolutely sickening and a reminder that in spite of the outpouring of sympathy and sorrow in the wake of the callous and brutal murder of Constable Kerr, there are still those in society who reside firmly in the gutter."

NI Secretary Owen Paterson represented the British Government at the service.

The PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and his counterpart from the Irish police Martin Callinan also paid their respects.

The Taoiseach was the first Irish premier to cross the border to attend an NI policeman's funeral.

He said yesterday in a statement to the Dáil that he wanted to "convey utter abhorrence for the brutal and senseless killing of Constable Ronan Kerr".

"In totally condemning the callous killing of a young man who had decided to dedicate his life to protecting the people of Northern Ireland, I am joined by all of the political voices on these islands," he said.

Constable Kerr is the second officer to have been killed since the Royal Ulster Constabulary became the PSNI in 2001.

Constable Stephen Carroll was shot dead in a gun attack in Craigavon in March 2009.

Peace Rally

At the same time as the funeral, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions organised a lunchtime rally in Belfast on Wednesday to allow people to express their abhorrence at the killing.

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long MP attended the peace rally at Belfast City Hall and said: "This demonstration was a genuine show of sympathy with the Kerr family at this very difficult time. It is a fitting tribute to Constable Ronan Kerr, who served the whole community and was a beacon of hope for a shared future, that a rally like this should draw support from right across the community.

"It is vital at this time that people stand together united in support of Ronan's family, in support of the police service and in support of peace.

"What we all must do now is build the shared and peaceful future for everyone in Northern Ireland that Ronan was committed to delivering in his work."

(BMcC/KMcA)