North hopes must not be dashed - Brady

The Catholic primate, Dr Sean Brady, has called on the British government to exercise its responsibilities and ensure Northern Ireland is a safer place for everyone. Speaking after the murder of Ms Elizabeth O'Neill in Portadown, on Saturday morning, he said: "It is the responsibility of the government to see that the basic rights of people to life and security are protected in Portadown and everywhere in Northern Ireland."

Condemning those responsible for Ms O'Neill's death, he appealed to them and their leaders to realise "that these senseless deeds are only making the resolution of conflict more difficult".

Ms O Neill's death had been linked to the Drumcree crisis, he said. As had frequently been pointed out, the only resolution of that conflict was an agreement worked out by the two sides which was why the current talks were so important, he said.

In the meantime, however, it was the government's responsibility to protect people. He offered his sympathy to Ms O'Neill's husband and family and "to all those whose homes have been attacked in recent times".

Dr Brady called on those elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly and given a mandate to implement the Belfast Agreement "to continue to try and make progress and so eliminate the dangerous vacuum created by the current impasse".

The substantial hopes already raised must not be dashed, he said.

Dr Robin Eames, the Archbishop of Armagh and Church of Ireland primate, called for calm in the community and said the attack was an attempt to exacerbate community tensions in Portadown.

The Presbyterian moderator, Dr John Dixon, described those behind the attack as "sinful, vile and utterly evil". They are only interested in dragging Northern Ireland back to ways of death and destruction that have achieved nothing, he added. The Methodist president, the Rev David Kerr, also voiced his condemnation.