A steely silence came over the Townsman's Bar in Derry city centre. Within minutes of hearing of the bombing the disbelief in the bar was tangible, but customers were still keeping an open mind.
One man, who did not want to be named, said he was not taking it too seriously. "I heard Gerry Adams on the radio today and he said republicans were committed to all party talks and a permanent ceasefire. It's obvious that whoever carried out this bombing is a splinter group of the IRA. I don't think it spells an end to the ceasefire," he said.
In another bar a short distance away, John O'Donnell was busy clearing glasses from the deserted table. He said that when people in the bar heard the news they finished their drinks and went home.
Stephen Doherty said he was on his way home from work when he heard the news on the car radio. "I am shocked. "I just cannot believe it. Everyone is talking about it but personally I don't think Sinn Fein or the IRA would put themselves into such a vulnerable position as to jeopardise the whole peace process nearly two years down the line".