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End this madness: Our message to dissidents
Posts your messages and tributes to murdered Northern Ireland policeman and soldiers
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Today Northern Ireland has the chance to send the clearest message yet to the dissidents who would return us to the past at the point of a gun.
At 1pm, mass rallies at Belfast City Hall, Guildhall Square in Londonderry and Newry Town Hall will fall silent — their wordless protest as eloquent as any speech or soundbite.
In numerical terms, of course, it is no contest.
Security sources estimate that perhaps as few as 100 diehards — still stewing in ancient, half-forgotten hatreds — are hell-bent on destroying the strides we as a society have taken in the past 15 years.
Ranged against them, though, is a vast coalition of such scale that it would have been thought impossible only a week ago.
Unionists; republicans; the London and Dublin governments; the churches; community leaders; educationalists; business leaders; trade unionists; people of all creeds and none — all joined in opposition to a return to the dark days of the Troubles.
The Peace People rallies of the mid-1970s are an obvious point of comparison for today's planned demonstrations.
But the coalition of outrage — disgust, even — which has formed following the murders of the men pictured at the top of this page, Constable Stephen Carroll (centre) and sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar, promises to dwarf even those.
This coalition is swollen by those too young to remember the 30-year nightmare we are slowly, painfully, extricating ourselves from.
We stand at a tipping-point — between the past we didn't want and the future we crave so desperately.
It was an Irishman, Edmund Burke, who wrote that all it takes for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.
Today, at 1pm, is a chance for good people to do something. We miss it at our peril.
Please leave your tributes and messages below
- Thousands
to express their revulsion with peace rallies
- Candlelit
vigil staged at city hall
- The
peace process will go on, vows PM
- MLAs
present a united front over killings
- People
are sickened by brutal murder, says priest
- Teenager
and man in his 30s held
- PSNI
widow: They’ve taken my life
- Brian Rowan: Fanatics’ deadly game
- Text Size
Comments
589 Comments
May God continue to bless the families of these fine men, who have given their lives to the service of others.
Posted by stephen carroll | 26.07.09, 23:24 GMT
I am a serving Met Officer whose family comes from N. Ireland, where I too lived for a time. My eldest son is currently serving in the Army, a job he loves, and of which we are very proud.
Aside from the sadness of this event for the good people of Ireland, my thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those killed. May they rest in peace.
Chris D.
Posted by Chris D | 21.05.09, 12:56 GMT
I am so sorry to hear of your loss caused by shameless individuals. God will bear witness to their actions. Bless you.
Posted by Marion | 13.04.09, 07:10 GMT
God bless the families and friends of police officer and soldiers: Mark Quinsey, Stephen Carroll and Patrick Azimkar. May you be kept safe and be strong, and this investigation runs smoothly.
My thoughts are with you as a serving police officer and mother.
Tara - Metropolitan Police.
Posted by Tara Wilson | 11.04.09, 10:58 GMT
How terribly sad to lose fine young men in this way. The cowards who murdered them will be found and brought to justice.
Posted by S Hill | 07.04.09, 14:47 GMT
How terribly sad to lose fine young men in this way. The cowards who murdered them will be found and brought to justice.
Posted by S Hill | 07.04.09, 14:47 GMT
I'm a serving police officer in London and I don't pretend to understand all the politics in N Ireland, but I find it appaulling that such callous murderers should think that they would gain anything by the cold blooded execution of Stephen Carroll who was answering a call for help by the public he serves. Worst still, even as they faced death, the two soldiers lay their lives on the line to save the pizza delivery guys... This is a perfect example of why the Irish people deserve better lives, to live in peace and to settle their differences in such a way that the families and friends of the victims on all sides can put to rest this bloody history. My sincere condolences to the family of these 3 lads for now, and hope that my wife and children will not have to suffer this terrible tragedy. You will not be forgotten.
Posted by Jason. MET | 07.04.09, 09:27 GMT
It is at times like these when we need to unite against aggression and terrorism and demonstrate to those people that we will not be deterred from the peace process. My thoughts go out to the families of the murdered soldiers and police officer, jobs that society require us to do but which carry real and present dangers. Condolencies from a sadenned mainlander.
Posted by E Toms | 07.04.09, 08:46 GMT
Once again those that serve pay the ultimate price. God bless all three of you
Posted by Mike (Met Police) | 06.04.09, 21:38 GMT
Another officer paying the ultimate price seving their community! Our thoughts are with the family and friends.
Posted by Peter Baggs | 06.04.09, 12:01 GMT
It saddens me that once more we are returned to the dark days of the past. Three brave men who were trying to bring peace, taken from their families and loved ones by those who have no understanding of what they have done or the pain they have caused to those left behind.
R.I.P Mark QUINSEY, Stephen CARROLL and Patrick AZIMKAR.
Posted by derek foley | 06.04.09, 08:09 GMT
As a serving Met Police Officer with over 21 years service and originally from Lisburn, I would like to add my condolences to the Family & Friends of those great men who lost their lives by these cowardly acts. My thoughts are also with those delivery boys who were shot for no other reason than delivering pizza to an Army Barracks. We owe a lot to the dedicated women of the PSNI & Armed Forces.
Posted by Met Police | 04.04.09, 07:17 GMT
You were targets because you were willing to stand up. Those of us that do the same won't forget and neither should anyone else. Deepest sympathies to all of your families.
Posted by Rhys | 03.04.09, 19:09 GMT
I would also like to add my family's condolence to all the family, friends and colleagues of these brave young soldiers and the PSNI officer who so tragically lost their lives....justice will be done.
Posted by The Bell Family | 03.04.09, 18:55 GMT
Im a serving Police Officer and was saddened as always when another officer is killed in the line of duty, but to have 2 young lads who were only just beginning their life gunned down as well was heartbreaking. Death of a loved one is never easy,and the manner in which they all died was pure cowardice on the part of the person/s responsible. My heart goes out to the families of all of them and I hope they can find peace . They should be very proud and we will never forget them.
Posted by Maggie (Met Pol) | 03.04.09, 17:38 GMT
I pray for the family and friends of these very brave and dedicated men. God Bless their souls
Posted by Violet | 03.04.09, 13:20 GMT
To the families and friends who have suffered the untimely and tragic loss of these brave men. Know that they are at peace. And know that those who took their lives will pay for their abhorrent crimes for eternity.
My thoughts are with you.
Posted by Emma. MPS | 02.04.09, 14:24 GMT
As a serving police officer in London and part of a military family I would like to offer my condolences to the families of all the fallen men who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting others. The people responsible for their deaths are cowards who hopefully will be bought to justice soon . RIP you are all heroes.
Posted by sam MET | 01.04.09, 21:43 GMT
As a Police Officer with nearly 33 years service, It always saddens me when I hear of the death of a Police Officer or Serviceman murdered whilst serving the public. Each day you have put your lives at risk to keep the peace and it is sickening that someone feels that we are the enemy, when all we want to do is to make the world a better place. Your family's should be proud of you all for paying the ultimate price for your courage and bravery
Posted by Dave Bevis | 01.04.09, 15:53 GMT
My sincere heartfelt thoughts go out to the victim's who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and to their families. These tragedies serve a reminder of the dangerous and difficult job Military and Police servicemen and woman undergo and hopefully the cowards responsible for the murder of these heroes will be rapidly brought to justice
Posted by IAN | 01.04.09, 14:13 GMT
589 Comments