Expressions of outrage and sadness at the murder of Ms Rosemary Nelson continued to be expressed in political, legal, church and community circles. Politicians at a round-table meeting in Stormont yesterday to find a resolution to the current political impasse sent a message of condolence to the Nelson family.
The SDLP Assembly member for Upper Bann, Ms Brid Rodgers, cut short her visit to Washington to attend Ms Nelson's funeral, which will be held tomorrow.
Ms Rodgers, paying tribute to Ms Nelson, said that she was highly respected within the community. "I think the purpose of it was to murder someone of her calibre and courage in defence of human rights and also I think it was an attempt to derail the peace process," she said.
Ms Rodgers said the greatest tribute that political parties in the North could pay to Ms Nelson was "to ensure that intention of derailing the peace process will not succeed".
The British political development minister, Mr Paul Murphy, and politicians at Stormont said Ms Nelson's death cast a shadow over the peace process at this difficult time. In a joint statement Mr Murphy and politicians at the round-table meeting stated their "abhorrence" of the murder but said they remained committed to peace.
"This atrocity has not shaken our determination to secure a peaceful future for Northern Ireland. On the contrary, it means our efforts are even more vital," it stated.
The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, joined in the condemnation of Ms Nelson's murder, and said it was "an attack on the very fabric of society". In a statement, Sir Robert expressed his horror and outrage on behalf of all those concerned in any capacity with the legal system.
"The attack on her was an attack on the very fabric of our society and it must not be allowed to deflect us from doing our duty. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to her husband and young children in their tragic loss," Sir Robert added.
Members of the Solicitors' Criminal Bar Association are to close their offices as a mark of respect to Ms Nelson tomorrow. The association has called on all solicitors to close for the funeral and asked the court service to close courtrooms.
The Northern Ireland Court Service said it would be left to individual courts to decide if they were to close. A spokesman said the magistrates' court sitting in Craigavon, Co Armagh, due to be held tomorrow morning has been cancelled until the afternoon.
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, Dr Harold Miller, extended his sympathy to the Nelson family. "Like so many, I had hoped that the days of such evil deeds were past, and am deeply saddened that there are still coldly calculating people in our midst who are prepared to take the life of another human being," he said.
Mr David Adams, of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), who met Mr Murphy before the roundtable talks, said Ms Nelson's death made overcoming the decommissioning deadlock of the utmost importance. The UDP, which has links with the loyalist paramilitaries, the UDA and the Ulster Freedom Fighters, has no Assembly representatives.
The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr John Taylor, said the murder had strengthened the need for decommissioning. "Those who say otherwise - particularly republicans - are attempting to profit from Ms Nelson's murder," he said.
He said the tragedy of Ms Nelson's death "will be used by the Provisional IRA totally spuriously to back their argument against decommissioning".
"The Ulster Unionist Party deplores all murder. While the Provisional IRA guns remain in society some misguided loyalists will find spurious justification for killing nationalists. That is in no one's interest," Mr Taylor added.
He said it was probable that Ms Nelson was murdered with the intention of provoking further acts of violence.
But Mr Taylor's comments attracted criticism from Sinn Fein as "an absolute disgrace and an insult to Ms Nelson's family". Dr Dara O'Hagan said: "He is clearly finding excuses for those who carried out this brutal killing. Blaming the actions of republicans for the killing of Rosemary Nelson is highly offensive."
The Sinn Fein Assembly member for Upper Bann asked Mr Taylor to "face the reality that the political vacuum created by his failure to implement the Good Friday agreement is what is giving loyalist death squads `spurious justification' for the killing of Rosemary Nelson, not the actions of republicans".
The Workers' Party has condemned what it described as "the murderous attack on Rosemary Nelson by a sectarian murder gang". The party president, Mr Tom French, said her murder would likely increase tension in Portadown, but urged politicians to push forward with the implementation of the Good Friday agreement.