A Catholic policeman who lost a leg in a dissident republican bomb attack has been moved out of intensive care, it emerged today.
PC Peadar Heffron was left fighting for his life following the blast in Randalstown, Co Antrim last month.
The 33-year-old had just left home to start work in west Belfast when the device exploded under his car.
After weeks in intensive care at Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust confirmed Mr Heffron had moved on to the next stage of his treatment.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI said the recently married officer was in a stable condition but remains seriously ill.
Mr Heffron was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment after the January 8th explosion and later had his right leg amputated at the Royal Victoria.
Last year the constable, who has served with the police for nine years, was among officers who attended the first meeting at which discussions in Derry between Policing Board officials and members of the public were conducted in the Irish language.
He also once played for Kickhams Creggan, a GAA club based in Randalstown.
The attack happened two miles from the Massereene Army barracks, where two soldiers just about to leave for Afghanistan were shot dead by the Real IRA last March.
Sappers Mark Quinsey (23), and Patrick Azimkar (21), were gunned down as they collected a pizza delivery outside the gates of the base.
PA