Anger at Kerr murder graffiti
As hundreds turn out to sign books of condolence in Omagh for murdered police officer Ronan Kerr, work got under way to clean up graffiti that appeared on walls in Londonderry supporting his killing.
In a town already left scarred by the Real IRA bomb atrocity 13 years ago, a number of books of condolence have given shocked locals a way of expressing their sympathy with Ronan Kerr’s family.
Among those leaving messages of support were pupils from Omagh Academy.
“We really don’t want to go back to the way it was before,” one young student, Gemma Beattie, told UTV.
“It doesn’t matter what religion you are, you still feel sorry for his friends and family because it’s just horrible.”
Another, Georgia Stewart, added: “For basically no reason, he was killed and a young life was taken away from his friends and family – I can’t imagine anybody a few years older than us having that happening to them for no good reason. It’s a bit scary.”
Ronan Kerr’s police colleagues have also paid tribute to their fallen colleague.
Books of condolence were opened in all PSNI Stations in F-District, as well as at the Omagh council offices and the public services building.
But in the Bogside area of Derry, daubed on walls near the scene of the Bloody Sunday shootings, messages of hate mocking Pc Kerr’s murder have provoked outrage.
The graffiti praised those behind 25-year-old Pc Kerr’s killing, and also warned of further threats against police officers.
Local community worker Tony Doherty, whose father was killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972, was among those who spoke out against the slogans.
“It is base, it is senseless, it’s insulting,” he told UTV. “Nobody wants it.”
A PSNI spokesman said officers were investigating incidents of anti-police graffiti in the area and appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
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