http://www.u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=18937&pt=n

FRIDAY 07/06/2002 17:54:13 9 comments

Ballymena bomb attack on policeman

Terrorists tried to blow up a Catholic recruit to the new Police Service of

Northern Ireland, it was revealed tonight.

A device exploded as the young officer was about to get into his car in

Ballymena, County Antrim.

He escaped unhurt after the detonator exploded but failed to trigger the

main device.

Army bomb disposal experts were called to Dunclurg Park after the explosion.

The young officer was due to begin his first day on duty in Londonderry on

Monday.

Stormont junior minister James Leslie condemned the attack, claiming the

incident raised ``serious security questions``.

Mr Leslie, who is the Ulster Unionist Assembly member for the area, said:

``This is a very shocking incident which has to be condemned on all sides.

``It was a clear attempt to attack a Catholic police officer.``

The officer was the first PSNI recruit to be targeted since the new police

service came into being last October.

The new police service has recruited equal numbers of Catholic and

Protestant trainee officers in a bid to redress the religious imbalances

which existed in its predecessor, the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Sinn Fein have opposed the new police service on the grounds that its senior

officers are still not accountable enough to the policing board.

They have refused to take their seats on the board until the British

government changes its police reform legislation.

Nationalist SDLP councillor in Ballymena Declan O`Loan condemned the attack.

He told reporters: ``This appears to be a serious device and a clear attempt

to at least maim the officer.

``This housing estate is in a state of shock. This was a very alarming

development but I would urge everyone who is resolved to bring about the new

beginning to policing not be deflected by such incidents.``

Last year, the SDLP became the first nationalist party in the history of

Northern Ireland to give its support to a police service.

The party broke ranks from Sinn Fein to take its seats on the new police

board.

Democratic Unionist Assembly Member Ian Paisley Jnr was alarmed at the

explosion.

``Obviously we need to establish what exactly happened but this is a very

worrying development,`` the police board member said.

``Dunclug Park is a quiet residential area and would be quite mixed.

``Community relations would be good. So this is a very serious incident.``

SATURDAY 08/06/2002 08:10:16 2 comments

Ballymena bomb probe continues

Detectives were today continuing their investigation into a car bomb attack

on a Catholic recruit to the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Democratic Unionist Assembly Member Ian Paisley Junior last night accused

the IRA of the attack, after the recent recruit escaped unharmed when the

bomb exploded under his car in Ballymena, County Antrim.

The officer, due to go on his first posting at a police station in

Londonderry on Monday, was badly shaken by the blast which occurred in the

quiet residential district Dunclug Park.

Emerging from talks at Stormont with Northern Ireland Office Minister Des

Browne, Mr Paisley, a member of Northern Ireland`s Police Board, said he had

no doubt that the IRA was responsible.

``I put it to the minister that the information I have received from

security sources was that this was a republican-type device.

``Mr Browne was made very aware of the political ramifications of that and I

told him that his government would have to make a judgment call on the state

of the paramilitary ceasefires in light of the violence on our streets in

recent days.

``Ministers will particularly have to review the IRA ceasefire.

``I have no doubt that the IRA is orchestrating events in an event to

stretch police and army resources and in a bid to extract more concessions

for republicans from the government.``

The Catholic police officer was the first PSNI recruit to be targeted by

terrorists since the new service came into being in November.

He was among the first batch of graduates at the PSNI training college at

their graduation ceremony in April.

Recruits are drawn in equal numbers from the Catholic and Protestant

communities in an attempt to address the religious imbalance that existed in

the PSNI`s predecessor, the Royal Ulster Constabulary which was

overwhelmingly Protestant.

The new police service has been endorsed by the moderate nationalist SDLP.

However Sinn Fein has refused to back it on the grounds that the police

reforms do not go far enough to satisfy republicans.

After last night`s talks with Mr Paisley, Mr Browne said the British

government was being kept up to speed on the security situation by the

acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn.

Condemning the attack, the minister said: ``There must be an unequivocal

condemnation from all sides of the community for this attack on a young

police officer who is just starting out on his career.

``My thoughts are with him and his family at this distressing and traumatic

time.

``At this stage police are not attributing this attack to any group but

those who use bombs and guns to imperil the lives of others must realise

there have no place in our society.``