Murder of Ronan Kerr

Ronan Kerr was a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer killed by a booby-trap car bomb planted outside his home on 2 April 2011 at Highfield Close, just off the Gortin Road (the B48), near Killyclogher on the northern outskirts of Omagh in County Tyrone.[1] Responsibility for the attack was later claimed by a dissident republican group claiming to be made of former members of the Provisional IRA.[2][3][4]

Murder of Ronan Kerr
Part of Dissident Irish Republican campaign
LocationOmagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Date2 April 2011
1600 BST
TargetRonan Kerr
Attack type
booby-trap
Deaths1
Injured0

Constable Kerr was Roman Catholic, a group which at the time constituted approximately 30% of PSNI officers (a proportion recruitment policies were trying to increase),[5] and was 25 at the time of his death. He was a member of a Gaelic Athletic Association club, the Beragh Red Knights. The guard of honour at Kerr's funeral was formed of club members and PSNI officers, a funeral also attended by the leaders of Ireland's four main churches.[6]

Reaction

His murder was condemned by almost all sections of Northern Irish politics and society as well as bringing international condemnation.[7][8] On 6 April a peace rally was organised in Belfast by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which was reported to have been attended by up to 7000 persons.[9] Similar events were held in Omagh, Enniskillen, and London.[10]

BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson commented, in relation to the unified response of the community, "A murder designed to divide people has actually brought them closer together."[6]

Graffiti praising the murder was daubed on walls in predominantly republican areas of Derry.[11]

Investigation

On 26 July 2011 five men were arrested in connection with the investigation. They were later released.[12]

On 26 November 2012, investigating detectives announced the arrest of a 22-year-old man in Milton Keynes.[13] On 27 November a 39-year-old man in County Tyrone was arrested and questioned.[4]

On 16 May 2017 officers from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch arrested two men under the Terrorism Act in connection with the murder. A 27-year-old man was arrested in Omagh, and a 40-year-old man was produced into police custody from prison.[14]

In June 2018, a man from Coalisland, County Tyrone, was charged with three terrorism-related charges. These charges were connected to searches in Coalisland in the course of the murder investigation.[15] The charges were dropped in June 2019.[16]

References
  1. Roberts, Genevieve (3 April 2011). "Booby trap bomb kills policeman in Northern Ireland". The Independent. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. Peter Robinson condemns Ronan Kerr murder claim – 22 April 2011 – BBC News
  3. Former Provos claim Kerr murder and vow more attacks – 22 April 2011 – Belfast Telegraph
  4. "Ronan Kerr investigation: Second arrest in latest searches". BBC. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  5. Northern Ireland’s McGuinness Says Dissidents are `Enemies' – 4 April 2011 – Bloomberg
  6. Ronan Kerr's killers told: 'In God's name stop' – 6 April 2011 – BBC news
  7. Ronan Kerr murder: Omagh rally a 'message for peace' – BBC News, 10 April 2011
  8. Omagh bombing condemned across Northern Ireland – BBC News, 3 April 2011
  9. Peace rally held after Pc murder – 6 April 2011 – Belfast Telegraph
  10. Thousands Back 'Not In My Name' Rally – 11 April 2011 – 4ni.co.uk
  11. "Ronan Kerr murder: Graffiti lauding bomb 'disgusting'". BBC. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  12. "Timeline of dissident republican activity". BBC News. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  13. "Ronan Kerr murder: Arrest of man in Milton Keynes". BBC. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  14. "PSNI on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  15. "Man charged with terrorism offences". BBC News. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  16. "Dissident accused Brian John Carron has case withdrawn". Irish News. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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