The Catholic bishop of Derry has expressed his shock “at the reckless
disregard for the sanctity of human life” by the planting of a bomb at
Bishop Street in the city on Sunday evening.
In a statement on Monday, Bishop Seamus Hegarty said the bomb, which
was left near the courthouse in Derry, and which was described by the
PSNI as a substantial, viable device, had caused “untold anxiety to the
local residents, including elderly and vulnerable people in Alexander
House.”
He said the care shown for the elderly residents from Alexander House
was in stark contrast to “the irresponsible behaviour of those who
planted the bomb.”
Forty elderly residents from Alexander House were
among those evacuated while British Army bomb experts carried out a
series of controlled explosions on the bomb, which was made from 50kg of
homemade explosives packed into a beer keg.
The device was left in a stolen vehicle in a car park near the courthouse in Derry.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin said that had the bomb
exploded, it could have killed those in the vicinity.
Dissident
republicans are being blamed.
Bishop Hegarty appealed to those involved in bombings and in recent
shootings, “to reflect on the consequences of their actions and to
respect the wishes of the overwhelming majority of people in our city
who desire to live in peace.”