UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: TWO POLICEMEN MURDERED ON DUTY

(16 Jun 1997) English/Nat

The British government has suspended contacts with the Irish republican Sinn Fein party after two police officers were murdered in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein is allied to the outlawed Irish Republican Army, who claimed responsibility for the slayings.

The two British policemen were gunned down shortly before noon, Monday, as they patrolled Church Walk, a residential road in Lurgan, Southwest of Belfast.

Witnesses said they were shot in the head.

The outlawed Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack in the town which is known for sectarian polarization between its pro-British Protestant and Roman Catholic residents.

The claim was made in a telephone call to a Belfast radio station using an I-R-A code word.

One of the first on the scene was David Trimble, leader of Northern Ireland's main pro-British Protestant party, the Ulster Unionist Party.

The community was obviously stunned by the killings, the first slaying of more than one police officer since 1993.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As a police officer can I just say that I am numbed by the brutal slaying of my two colleagues here in Lurgan this morning, as indeed are the other members of the force. And at this particular time our thoughts and our sympathies are with the families of the two deceased officers. Those families who have suffered such tragic losses through the murders that we have witnessed earlier today. No cause in a democracy can ever justify the murder of anyone and that includes the murder of a police officer doing their public duty."
SUPER CAPTION: Freddy Hall, Assistant Chief Constable

Trimble called for calm, and appealed to the opposition armed group - loyalist paramilitaries - not to respond to the killings.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I hope very much the government will act, and act quickly in such a way as to give confidence to the community. And I would add my appeal to anyone involved or connected with loyalist paramilitarism - don't play the I-R-A's game, don't play the I-R-A's game in this situation."
SUPER CAPTION: David Trimble, Ulster Unionist

He said the killings showed why Protestant leaders oppose letting Sinn Fein into negotiations on Northern Ireland's future.

Trimble said he had met with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland earlier on Monday.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"She told me that at that stage there was no arrangement to meet Sinn Fein and I think and I expressed the view to her that there could now be no question whatsoever of such a meeting going forward, this week, next week, whatever."
SUPER CAPTION: David Trimble, Ulster Unionist

Other politicians were shocked at the news and questioned the republican intentions for finding peace in the province.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Have what?
Q: Have admitted responsibility for this murder, what's your reaction to that?
"Well, my reaction to that is that we have to really look at the whole situation of the republican movement and their declared intention of moving towards peaceful accommodation, with the agreement of both sections of this community."
SUPER CAPTION: Brid Rodgers, Social Democratic and Labour Party

Later in the day the British government announced it was suspending contacts with Sinn Fein because of the slayings.

Government officials had met twice with Sinn Fein to discuss terms for the party's entry into peace talks, and a third meeting - now cancelled - had been planned.

The I-R-A launched its campaign against British rule of Northern Ireland in 1970 and resumed hostilities in February 1996 following a 1994 cease-fire.

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