Minister Cowen Condemns Attack on Strabane District Policing Partnership Chairman, Mr Tom McBride

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D., has condemned last night’s letter bomb attack on the home of Strabane DPP Chairman, Tom McBride. Speaking following a meeting at Castle Buildings with Mr McBride’s SDLP Party Leader, Mark Durkan, Minister Cowen described the attack as a reprehensible assault on Mr McBride and his family.

The Minister said:

“This was the second, disgraceful attack on Tom McBride and his family since he accepted the role as Chairman of his local DPP. I’m relieved that no one was injured by this cowardly attack, and would call on those responsible to desist in their efforts to destabilise the work of such a vital, community focussed initiative”.

“The DPP’s, as an important part of the new beginning to policing promised by the Good Friday Agreement, serve a vital function on behalf of local communities by providing a local perspective to policing issues. The Policing Plan published yesterday by the Policing Board contains a number of clear objectives intended to improve crime detection in areas such as violent crime, domestic burglaries and domestic violence, which directly impact on the quality of life in Strabane and throughout Northern Ireland”.

“It is about time that those responsible for such attacks face the harsh reality that they can no longer claim to carry out their evil deeds in the good name of the people of Northern Ireland – the people have repeatedly and overwhelmingly voted for a peaceful future, and not a return to the past”.

The Minister concluded:

“The DPP’s have the full support of the Government and British Government, and deserve the support and respect of the entire community for their invaluable contribution. It is a testament to their courage and determination that these attacks have served not to diminish, but reinforce, their resolve to carry out their duties. For that, Mr McBride and the other DPP members deserve our full support”. Top