IRA kills 2 policemen in Northern Ireland
Britain to cut off contact with Sinn Fein
June 16, 1997
Web posted at: 11:58 a.m. EDT (1558 GMT)BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- The Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the shooting deaths of two police officers near Belfast early Monday morning.
The Royal Ulster Constabulary said that the two officers had been shot dead at close range in Lurgan, 30 miles south of Belfast, and the gunmen escaped in a car. The car was later found burning in the town's main Catholic neighborhood.
Britain later said that, in response to those killings, it had broken off contacts with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the outlawed IRA.
The North Armagh brigade of the IRA claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to a Belfast radio station. The caller used a recognized code word to authenticate the claim.
Witnesses to the attack said the gunman shot both officers in the head as they patrolled on foot in a residential area behind Lurgan's main police barracks. The two were not accompanied by British soldiers, as is often the case, and apparently had no time to defend themselves.
David Trimble, leader of Northern Ireland's main Protestant party, said he hoped the killings would put an end to "all the silly false optimism" that peace could be struck with the anti-British IRA.
"You don't negotiate with the IRA," said Trimble, a Member of Parliament from the Lurgan area. "You imprison them."
Brid Rodgers, a representative of the moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party, called the shooting "a very cowardly attack." The SDLP draws strong support from Northern Ireland's minority Catholics
The IRA broke an 18-month cease-fire in their campaign against Britain's rule in Northern Ireland in February 1996, with a series of bomb attacks in England. The group resumed attacks inside Northern Ireland in October.
The attack was the first fatal shooting of police officers this year. In the last three weeks, however, a policewoman was shot in the back in Londonderry, a 1,000-pound bomb was found in West Belfast, and an off-duty policeman was beaten to death in North Belfast.
- Newsmaker Profile: Gerry Adams - Sinn Fein President
Related stories:
- Peace talks resume in Northern Ireland - June 3, 1997
- Sinn Fein, British reopen contact as N. Ireland votes - May 21, 1997
- Sinn Fein's new MPs want office in House of Commons - May 13, 1997
Related sites:
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- Royal Ulster Constabulary - the police force of Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Information Centre
- Northern Ireland Government Home Page
- Sinn Fein - Home Page
- An Phoblacht/Republican News
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