Fears of return to 'dark days' after bomb attack on officer in Northern Ireland

Published on Friday 8 January 2010 22:11

A CATHOLIC police officer was fighting for his life last night after he was critically injured by a booby-trap bomb in Northern Ireland, which has been blamed on dissident republicans.

• A forensic officer examines Constable Heffron's bomb-damaged Alfa Romeo in Randalstown, County Antrim. Picture: PA

Peadar Heffron, 33, had just left his home outside Randalstown, County Antrim, to start duty in west Belfast when the device exploded under his blue Alfa Romeo car. Constable Heffron, who spoke Irish and was captain of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI's) Gaelic football team, was married last year.

His cousin Martin Totten said: "This is terrifying. I just hope we're not slipping back into the dark old days. Everybody thought this was all behind us."

Shocked neighbours rushed to help the injured officer whose car careered sideways on the slippery Milltown Road at about 6:30am, half a mile from where he lived.

He was taken to hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the Royal Victoria in Belfast. Up to a dozen police cars escorted the ambulance as it drove along the M2 motorway into the city.

The explosion happened two miles from the Massereene army barracks, in Antrim, where two soldiers just about to leave for Afghanistan were shot dead by the Real IRA last March. Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23 and Patrick Azimkar, 21, were gunned down as they accepted a pizza delivery outside the gates of the base.

Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness and Irish prime minister Brian Cowen, as well as other politicians and church leaders on all sides, condemned the bombing.

It is the latest in a series of attacks by dissidents and virtually identical to one close to the PSNI headquarters in Belfast in which an officer's girlfriend narrowly escaped death last October.

Last year PC Heffron, who has served with the police for nine years, was among officers who attended the first meeting in Londonderry at which discussions between policing board officials and members of the public were conducted in the Irish language.

He also played a key role in establishing the PSNI's Gaelic football team and was this season's captain.

He once played for Kickhams Creggan, a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club based in Randalstown where Mr Totten, the club secretary, spoke of his shock at the attack on a close relative.

He said: "I really thought we were past this. I thought with the Good Friday Agreement and all the political progress that these sort of actions had ended and that policing was no longer considered by the Catholic fraternity as a problem area. Catholic members of the police service should be accepted."

Antrim county board chairman Dr John McSparran said he was deeply shocked. He added: "I thought we had moved into a new era. Clearly there are elements out there determined to pick soft targets. There are a small group of individuals refusing to accept the wishes of the majority."

The attack appeared to be another attempt to heighten tensions and embarrass Sinn Fein.

Detective Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, who is heading the police investigation, urged people in the area to come forward if they noticed anything suspicious. He branded the attackers "faceless, cowardly thugs".

Mr McGuinness said the victim had contributed positively to the community.

"The people who carried out this attack make no contribution. These actions serve no purpose and will not further any cause," he said.

Northern Ireland security minister Paul Goggins said: "This vile attack will sicken people across Northern Ireland.

"I applaud the work the PSNI are doing to make our towns and cities safer."