I was heartened to learn that the Ireland’s lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann, has passed a motion to condemn the recent atrocities in Antrim and Craigavon.

It reads as follows:

That Dáil Éireann:

— utterly condemns the murders of Sapper Mark Quinsey and Sapper Cengiz Azimkar in Antrim, and of Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon, as well as the injuries inflicted on others in those attacks;

— expresses its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of the dead and injured;

— affirms that the groups responsible for these atrocities have no mandate or support whatsoever from the Irish people;

— reaffirms its unequivocal support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána in their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of these evil crimes and to combat the groups who organised them;

— stands united together with the Irish and British Governments, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the members of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, democratic representatives and all the people of this island, and friends of Ireland around the world, in full support of the democratic institutions and in absolute opposition to violent attempts to undermine the peace process; and

— resolves to remain steadfast in upholding the democratic will of the people to live together in peace.”

The parties in Ireland are united, the parties in Northern Ireland are united, and the parties in the rest of the United Kingdom are also united in their condemnation. Fortunately, the whole of Northern Ireland society also seems united in our condemnation of the criminals.