Politicians from across the spectrum in Northern Ireland have joined to condemn the killing of Portadown woman Ms Elizabeth O'Neill (59), who died when a pipe-bomb was thrown through the window of her home by loyalist extremists.
The mother of two was watching television on the predominately loyalist Corcrain estate when a brick was thrown through the living room window followed by the device shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday. She was killed instantly. A second attack occurred a few streets away at Westland Drive, 10 minutes later. Two sisters and a 10-month-old baby escaped uninjured when the device landed in the garden.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said the two attacks in Portadown were an attempt to derail efforts at finding a resolution to conflict between loyalists and nationalists in the town. He condemned similar attacks on homes in east Belfast and Castlewellan, Co Down on Friday night.
"This lady and her family lived in that house peacefully and quietly among their neighbours for 36 years until this attack," said Mr Trimble, who cancelled a planned trip to Israel to visit the town. "Sectarianism was a significant factor in the attacks," he added.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, stressed that those behind the attack wanted to provoke a restoration of violence in the North. "I hope no one will fall into the trap these dreadful extremists are trying to play." The Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, also "unreservedly condemned" the killing and the DUP mayor of Craigavon, Co Armagh, Mr Mervyn Carrick, said no cause justified "this barbarity".
Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, the political wing of the UVF, said the perpetrators simply hate Catholics. "There is no concept here about the constitution of Northern Ireland or a better future for our children. It is only about bitterness and hatred," he said.
The Sinn Fein senior negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, expressed his "outrage and horror" in the wake of the killing and urged nationalists in Portadown to be vigilant. He claimed the unionist leadership must share some blame for the incident.
"Its failure to honour commitments made and its refusal to implement the Good Friday Agreement has created a political vacuum in which loyalist rejectionists have flourished," said Mr McGuinness.
The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said that five people were being questioned about the incident. He described the killing as "brutal and cowardly".
"It shows the sorts of people that are out there, prepared to attack people just because they think they might be Catholics." He said a statement by the LVF denying responsibility for the attack should not be taken at face value. "It is too soon to speak about what organisation was behind it."
The funeral of Ms O'Neill will be held today at the Church of Ireland Seagoe parish just outside Portadown. Church leaders have also spoken out against the attack.
The Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Dr Sean Brady, condemned those responsible and appealed to them to "realise that these senseless deeds are only making the resolution of conflict more difficult".
According to the Workers' Party president, Mr Tom French, the killing was carried out by religious fundamentalists "wielding a Bible in one hand and an Armalite in the other" who feel threatened by the peace process.
Meanwhile, Mr Vincent McKenna of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau said the killing meant the British government should introduce selective internment to deal with those behind sectarian attacks.