LAST UPDATE | 23 Feb 2023
THE PRESIDENT AND Taoiseach have condemned the shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh while politicians across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland have come together in a rare joint statement to roundly to say there can be “no tolerance” for such an attack.
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was attacked shortly after 8pm at a sports complex on the Killyclogher Road in Omagh at a coaching session for youth football team while he was not on duty.
Two gunmen approached and are believed to have both fired multiple shots.
The officer ran but fell to the ground, with the gunmen continuing to shoot, the police believe.
DCI Caldwell remains in hospital where his condition is “critical but stable”. He underwent surgery overnight.
Detectives on the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have launched an investigation into the attempted murder, with a primary focus on the New IRA.
Three men – aged 38, 45 and 47 – have been arrested in Omagh and Coalisland, Co Tyrone, in connection with the attempted murder.
They are currently being questioned at Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.
Political leaders in Northern Ireland issued a joint statement this morning saying there can be no tolerance for this type of attack and that those responsible must face justice.
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O’Neill, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood collectively said that they “speak for the overwhelming majority of people right across our community who are outraged and sickened by this reprehensible and callous attempted murder”.
“The community of Omagh has endured profound suffering, loss, and pain in the past which has left a deep trauma, and so this act of violence has left people there rightly angered,” the leaders said.
There is absolutely no tolerance for such attacks by the enemies of our peace. Those responsible must be brought to justice.
“This will require the full co-operation of the public whom we call upon to assist police in this attempted murder investigation.
“Together we stand with John’s family and his colleagues in the police service at this time.”
Speaking to reporters at Stormont this afternoon, O’Neill said the actions of the gunmen “are totally intolerable and not acceptable to anybody”.
“They represent an attack on the peace process and everything that we have achieved over the last 25 years, and that can’t be allowed to happen, so anybody with even a sliver of information needs to come forward, bring that to the PSNI and let them get on with doing their job in the investigation,” she said.
Donaldson said: “we trust now that those responsible for this terrible deed will indeed be brought to justice and we’re watching events very closely indeed.”
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he “welcomes the cross party political condemnation to last night’s attack”.
In a statement this morning, President Michael D Higgins said that “the shooting of a police officer in front of his son is something that will be condemned by all those who believe in democracy and the peace that we all need to sustain”.
“It is to be welcomed that members of all communities have expressed their revulsion at this act.”
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack and said he hopes DCI Caldwell makes a “speedy recovery”.
“I want to extend my best wishes to John Caldwell, to his family and to his friends,” the Taoiseach said.
“The circumstances were truly awful. For this to happen in a sports club, for his son to witness these events, it is a chilling reminder of a past that I think we all hope is behind us.
“I would encourage anyone who has any information on this to make it available to the PSNI, and also An Garda Síochána have offered any assistance to the PSNI that we can offer.
“I hope he makes a speedy recovery. I condemn the attempted murder without reservation. There’s no place for this in our society. It’s a really chilling reminder of a very dark past that none of us want to return to. ”
Liam Kelly, Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland that represents rank and file officers, called the attack “callous, cold-blooded and barbaric”.
Minister for Justice Simon Harris is in contact with the Garda Commissioner following the attack as gardaí provide support to the PSNI.
Harris said that “the shooting of a PSNI officer in Omagh is utterly deplorable and completely shocking to people across this island, all the more so as it took place in the presence of young people”.
“My first thoughts this evening are with the officer, his family and police colleagues as well with as the health professionals in Altnagelvin Hospital,” Harris said.
“I’ve been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána are of course providing all possible support to their PSNI colleagues. I remain in close contact with them.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said today is “very sombre day for all of us involved in policing on this island”.
Harris said they are thinking of DCI Caldwell and his family, and have assured the PSNI of “every assistance in terms of what operationally we can do to assist them both in terms of the investigation, but also ongoing operations that are being conducted”.
He said: “Last night when we were informed of this attack, we reacted quickly in terms of providing a very strong presence in the border area, and that has carried on throughout the day, and I personally assured the chief constable (Simon Byrne) of our ongoing support with whatever requirements that they would make of us, as well as obviously conducting our own inquiries.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the “disgraceful shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh”.
“My thoughts are with the officer and his family. There is no place in our society for those who seek to harm public servants protecting communities.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris described the attack as “cowardly and callous”.
Heaton-Harris said the community of Omagh is “completely shocked by this because society has moved on in Northern Ireland”.
He said: “There is no place for violence like this.”
Asked if he was concerned about the safety of PSNI officers, Heaton-Harris said: “I’m always concerned about safety of PSNI officers but they’re completely professional, and in all my experiences with them they know exactly what they’re doing and actually are policing the communities of Northern Ireland really effectively and very, very well.
“But this is a really significant event. It’s a very serious event, and it’s difficult to underline how cowardly these people are.”
He said he will be in Northern Ireland “very shortly”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the shooting was unacceptable and that there could be “no sympathy” for it.
“”I don’t give tuppence what the supposed political rationale is, if this is a political act of the assailants in question,” she said.
“I am saying to everybody concerned, bring any information, however small [to the police].”
‘Cowardice’
Speaking to The Journal at the scene in Omagh this morning, SDLP MLA for west Tyrone Daniel McCrossan said: “As a community we are in shock by what has happened, but first and foremost we’re all thinking of John Caldwell, of his family, of his son who was here last night, of the young people and children who were here in this complex, playing football, training for Gaelic, running, exercising, socialising.
“That was the context in which John Caldwell was last night, he was here in his capacity as a father and a member of this community, off duty, spending time with his son”
He said it was “not just an attack on the PSNI or John Caldwell, it’s an attack on this community, it’s an attack on our peace, it’s an attack on the children and young people and the future generations of this society”.
“Today, all of us are united in our absolute condemnation of those dangerous, evil, cruel and barbaric, wreckless individuals who carried out this attack,” he added.
McCrossan added that the incident was “an act of terrorism”.
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley also spoke to The Journal at the scene and said: “Without a doubt this has sent shockwaves through our local community.
It’s not only an attack on a police officer, it’s an attack on the community as a whole.
“We stand united this morning in condemning what happened here last night and I think our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the police officer.
“We’re standing here this morning, we’re united as political leaders and indeed as community leaders in ensuring that this is called out for what it is. It was a horrific attack on an off duty police officer.”
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said it was “an absolutely disgusting attack”.
“There’s going to be people waking up all over the country today in shock at what happened, so I would like to join in the condemnation of that attack and send my thoughts to the police officer and his family and indeed the entire community,” she said.
“Those children will be very impacted by this. It’s a disgusting attack on on our democracy and it won’t be tolerated. It could never be allowed to to undermine the peace that is there in the North at the moment.”
The Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of Armagh issued a joint statement describing their “great shock and sense of disbelief” at the shooting.
“It is impossible to find appropriate words even to describe let alone condemn such an act of depraved violence against a police officer who, as a public servant, works for the protection and well-being of the whole community,” they said.
“Our thoughts and prayers at this time, along with those of our parishioners, are with the officer, and with his colleagues, family and friends. As the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of Armagh, we are united in our condemnation of this abhorrent attack on someone serving our community.”
With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper, Niall O’Connor, Hayley Halpin and the Press Association
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