Memorial service for murdered Birmingham soldier Sapper Mark Quinsey

Mar 12 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

Today, Armed Forces minister, Bob Ainsworth, labelled the murderers as “psychopathic killers”.

He said: “The murderers of our soldiers in Northern Ireland last weekend do not represent the Catholic republican community.

“Instead, as Chief Constable Hugh Orde rightly said, they are psychopathic killers.

“I know what kind of a country I wish to live in.

“It is one that is tolerant, free and fair and where people live up to these values and are not told how to live by others.

“Because I know this, I know what the enemy is.

“It is intolerant extremism of whatever kind that seeks to undermine the fabric of our society and all its communities.”

Today police chiefs from both sides of the border will meet in Belfast to discuss the security situation while the leaders of Northern Ireland’s four main churches are also to hold talks.

Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Hugh Orde will discuss cross-border strategies to defeat the dissident threat with Garda commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

The meeting comes after thousands took to the streets yesterday at trade union rallies held at a string of towns and cities in the region to show revulsion at the return of paramilitary violence.