The mother of a murdered policeman says his dissident republican killers achieved nothing.
Preparing to mark the first anniversary of her son Ronan's death, Nuala Kerr said she felt sorry for those responsible as they would always have to live with the guilt of taking a life.
With no one yet charged over the attack, she urged the perpetrators to unburden their conscience and hand themselves in.
Constable Kerr (25) from Beragh, Co Tyrone, died when a booby trap bomb exploded under his car in nearby Omagh on April 2nd last year.
Only months into the job, the Catholic gaelic footballer was apparently targeted in a bid to scare other young nationalists from joining Northern Ireland's police service.
In the wake of the murder, Mrs Kerr made an emotional plea for Catholic trainee recruits and police officers to defy the killers and continue to serve.
Almost 12 months on, the officer's mother said the killers had failed in their objective and achieved absolutely nothing. "Numerous people have said to me since: 'my son, my daughter, as soon as recruitment is open again, they are hell bent on joining'," she said. "I am delighted for Ronan that at least that is something positive that has come out of this, but unfortunately saddened that Ronan wasn't there to be one of their mentors to help them along."
Mrs Kerr, a nurse, said she pities the killers.
"I actually feel sorry for people like that being brought up and indoctrinated into the belief that killing somebody is actually going to achieve something," she said. "I feel sorry for people who think that - that it's okay to kill somebody. How is it ever going to be okay to kill somebody, you are going to have to live with that for the rest of your life?"
She reiterated her belief that no-one should be put off from joining the PSNI.
"I feel that's the only way forward in this country, we all need fairly represented in every aspect of life, and policing is one of them, and I just feel how else does this happen?" she said.
Mrs Kerr intends to spend Monday's anniversary at home in Beragh with her surviving children Cathair, Aaron and Dairine.
PA