Killing of Catholic on way to work condemned
The Irish Times05 July 2001
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By Suzanne Breen, in Belfast
Nationalists have been warned to be vigilant following the killing of
a Catholic man in Antrim. Sinn Féin and the SDLP have said the murder
was sectarian. There was growing concern last night of further attacks
as tension mounts in advance of Sunday when loyalists will gather at Drumcree
after the Orange Order was banned from marching down the Garvaghy Road.
Mr Ciaran Cummings (19) was shot dead at the Greystone roundabout on
the outskirts of Antrim town while he was waiting for a lift to work yesterday.
There has been widespread condemnation of the killing.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, appealed for all sides to
remain calm and for political and community leaders to redouble their
efforts to work for an end to such attacks.
He condemned the "vicious and cowardly murder" of Mr Cummings which,
he said, bore all the hallmarks of a sectarian attack. The killers had
no political mandate and sought a return to "the failed politics of the
past", he added.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, condemned the murder as "a
tragic and terrible event". The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, said
it should act as a "spur" in the peace process. "We want to put all paramilitary
weapons beyond use, rep ub lican and loyalist. I hope this acts as a spur
to all of us to see that this is achieved." The shooting took place at
7.15 a.m. when Mr Cummings was on his way to work at an engineering firm
in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim.
He was approached by two men on a motorcycle. The pillion passenger opened
fire, hitting him at least twice. He died by the roadside. His assailants
sped off in the direction of the M2 motorway. Other workers who were also
waiting for lifts witnessed the killing. It is understood he had been
recently threatened by the Loyalist Volunteer Force.
A caller claiming to represent the Red Hand Defenders told a Belfast
newsroom that it was responsible. He said the killing was a response to
the election of two Sinn Féin members to the local council last month.
A code word was used.
However, there is confusion in loyalist circles as to which group was
responsible. Some sources believe the Loyalist Volunteer Force, which
is active in the area, was involved. Others are blaming dissident UDA
members.
Mr Cummings lived in the Greystone Estate which is religiously mixed.
A friend of the family, Ms Mary Matthews, said: "They are devastated.
They just cannot take it in. Ciaran was a normal 19-yearold with plenty
of friends from both sides of the community. I don't know why anyone would
want to kill him."
Sinn Féin councillor Mr Martin McManus said: "This was a sectarian murder,
this young man has lost his life because of the silly Drumcree parade
which is causing division in this country." SDLP Assembly member Mr Donovan
McClelland said Mr Cummings was shot dead because he was a Catholic and
a soft target. "The attack bears all the hallmarks of a well planned and
highly organised killing and constitutes a very worrying development in
this area." RUC Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the RUC
wasn't ruling out a sectarian motive. "This was a very professional, well
organised, well-planned shooting. It was not random. They knew who they
were going for."
He said the attack appeared to have been the work of paramilitaries.
Mr Ken Wilkinson of the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political
wing, also condemned the killing. "I spoke to the victim's father and
he was distraught. Some people will be sitting thinking they are heroes.
They are anything but that." Local Ulster Unionist Assembly member Mr
Jim Wilson said it was a "despicable act" which "would only serve to heighten
tensions at what is an already difficult time". Alliance Assembly member
Mr David Ford ac cused loyalist paramilitaries of trying to return the
North to "the dark days" of the 1970s.
Mr Ciaran Cummings (19), shot dead yesterday
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