Slain soldiers remembered at prayer service

|PIC1|Two soldiers shot dead by republican dissidents were remembered at a prayer service on Saturday.

The service was held near to the Massereene Barracks in Northern Ireland, where Sappers Patrick Azimkar, 21, and Mark Quinsey, 23, were gunned down by members of the Real IRA while collecting a pizza delivery at the gates just hours before they were due to fly to Afghanistan.

The prayer service also remembered police constable Stephen Carroll, who was murdered by republican dissidents just 48 hours later.

A spokeswoman for Antrim Borough Council said the prayer service was being held “to allow the public to come together one week after the atrocity which saw two young soldiers murdered and four other young men shot in such a cruel and callous way", according to Press Association.

Church leaders have unanimously condemned the killings. The Pope said in his general audience this week.

He said: "I condemn in the strongest terms these abominable acts of terrorism which, apart from desecrating human life, seriously endanger the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland. I ask the Lord that no one will again give in to the horrendous temptation of violence.”

The Anglican Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Alan Harper, called for a redoubling of efforts towards lasting peace.

He vowed in a joint statement with the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill, that the killings would not derail the peace process.

“The people of Ireland North and South have agreed to move forward through political process,” the statement said.

“The Good Friday Agreement signed by political representatives was confirmed in referenda that established a commitment to forge a peaceful, inclusive and respectful future.

“The actions of an unrepresentative minority will not be allowed to disrupt the democratic process and turn us back to darker days.”

Hundreds of Catholics and Protestants turned out for the funeral of constable Carroll at St Therese’s Catholic church in his home town of Banbridge on Friday.

In his homily, Canon Liam Stevenson called for greater efforts towards peace.

“Today is the day for peace. Let us concentrate our minds fully on building peace among people. Let us not be distracted. Let us not waiver. Let us not turn back. Let us not lose our focus. Let us double our efforts. A united people cannot be waylaid,” he said.

Archbishop Harper has called on the Church of Ireland to set Sunday aside as a day of remembrance for the victims, those injured and their families.