THE Chief Constable of the RUC, Mr Ronnie Flanagan yesterday paid tribute to Const Greg Taylor killed in Ballymoney, Co Antrim yesterday morning. He was speaking at an ecumenical service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the RUC.
Scores of dignitaries, including the Deputy Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, heard Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop of Armagh Dr Robin Eames, pay tribute to the RUC and its task to uphold and protect the rule of law.
Mr Flanagan paid tribute to all the current and former members of the force. He said: "That justifiable sense of achievement is, however, tinged with considerable sadness at the huge sacrifice made by our officers on behalf of all the people of this Province, and the appalling suffering of the rest of this society as a result of terrorism.
"I would ask all right thinking people to ask where we would be without the RUC. I think they would recognise that we would have been in a much worse situation," he said.
Dr Eames said: "But given the political turmoil, the political and religious differences of this community and the constant threat of terrorism, that task becomes nothing less than daunting. To combat what we might call `ordinary crime' while at the same time facing the realities of violent terrorist onslaught has confronted the police service in Northern Ireland with a challenge unequalled in western Europe.
The Archbishop referred to a recent survey which said Northern Ireland, in terms of `ordinary crime' was the safest place in Europe to live.
"And yet so often this province of ours has been brought to the edge of anarchy. So often the passions of two communities divided by the mistakes or the misrepresentations of history have pushed the police into the centre, the centre which they could win few friends, which they faced the verbal and physical assault of both opposing factions. Our society has demanded of our police an almost impossible task."
Attending the service were the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Colonel Elliot Wilson and Mrs Wilson; the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Ian Adamson; the High Sheriff of Belfast, Cllr Nelson McCausland; Lord Lieutenant of Londonderrry, Sir Michael McCorkell and Lady McCorkell; other Lord Lieutenants included the Duke of Abercorn; Mr and Mrs J.T. Eaton; and Mr and Mrs W.J. Hall.
Also among the congregation were the newlyappointed Northern Ireland Office Minister, Mr Adam Ingram with his wife; the British GOC Lieut Gen Smithand Lady Smith; Senior Naval Officer, NI, Cmd Sewell and Mrs Sewell; Senior RAF Officer, NI, Group Capt Freeman and Mrs Freeman; Deputy Commissioner of the Garda Siochana, Mr N. Conroy and Mrs Conroy: former RUC Chief Constable. Sir John Hermon and Lady Hermon; Chairman of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, Mr Pat Armstrong; North Down MP, Mr Robert McCartney and Mrs McCartney; Ms Kathy Stephens of the US Consul; Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Most Rev Gerard Clifford representing the Catholic Church; representatives of MENCAP, Ms Aine Gibbons, Mrs Marion Nicholas and Mr and Mrs M. Wilson.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam joined guests including the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Byrne at a gala concert at the newly opened Waterfront Hall in Belfast. The band of the Gardai Siochana joined the RUC band as did the RUC Male Voice Choir and the Garda Male Voice Choir. The concert's star attraction was Mr Peter Corry who served with the RUC before starting his singing career.
Funds raised during the celebrations will be donated to MENCAP, the charity which helps those with learning difficulties. MENCAP is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.