The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Right Reverend Andrew Forster, has condemned the attempted murder of a police officer in Omagh, on Wednesday evening, as “callous and evil”. The off-duty officer was shot a number of times at a sports complex on the Killyclogher Road and was taken from there to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry for treatment for his injuries.
You can read Bishop Forster’s statement, in full, below:
“The attempted murder of a PSNI officer in Omagh, on Wednesday evening, was a crime against God and a crime against man.
“The attack was callous and evil and will be condemned by all right-thinking people. There is no justification for this kind of violence in our society. The fact that this happened in close proximity to children highlights the wickedness and recklessness of the perpetrators.
“I offer my prayers for the injured officer and his family, and pledge my support to his colleagues in the PSNI. I appeal to anyone with any knowledge about this crime to give the information to the police.”
Wednesday’s attack was also condemned by the Rector of Drumragh with Mountfield, Rev Graham Hare. “Everyone at St Columba’s Church is shocked and deeply saddened by the violent shooting of an off-duty police officer at Youth Sport this evening,” Rev Hare said. “Violence of every kind is to be condemned, all the more so when it is witnessed by children. This evening we pray for the injured officer, for all who attended the scene and for comfort, strength and peace for all who have been impacted, most especially the family of the victim.”