GAA:THE GAELIC Athletic Association has reiterated its revulsion at the suspected dissident republican murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr.
Senior and local members of the GAA held a press conference at Constable Kerr’s Beragh Red Knights club yesterday evening to show solidarity with the Kerr family, to condemn the murder, and to support the PSNI.
They followed up on a number of GAA statements issued directly after the murder, including one from Tyrone team manager Mickey Harte, whose daughter Michaela was murdered in January while on her honeymoon in Mauritius. He described the killing as a “totally despicable act”.
Constable Kerr’s body was returned to his family last night. The GAA club is liaising with the family to help prepare for the funeral, which is likely to be held tomorrow.
A minute’s silence in memory of Constable Kerr was held at the Tyrone v Kildare game in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on Sunday and was impeccably observed.
The Ulster GAA president, Aogan Ó Fearghail, told reporters in Beragh yesterday that “absolutely and unequivocally” anyone with information about the murder should contact the police.
He also supported nationalists joining the PSNI. “We believe that any civilised society needs a police force and we are committed to seeing that people who come from a nationalist background would remain and be committed to a policing service,” he said.
Mr Ó Fearghail was also asked what he would say to the killers if some or all of them were GAA members.
“It would not be compatible with GAA membership to take someone else’s life,” he replied.
He said one of the GAA’s strengths was its commitment to community. “And when one of our members is attacked, and when our communities are attacked, we are all attacked,” he said.
“We are saddened and we are upset, and we are angry that we have been attacked as an association, that a family has been robbed of a young man, and that the PSNI has lost a valuable comrade,” added Mr Ó Fearghail.
Chairman of the Beragh club Gearóid Ó Treasaigh spoke of how Ronan Kerr was a respected member of Beragh Red Knights who had played with the club up until the age of 18.
“Ronan Kerr was a Catholic, an Irishman and a Gael, who joined the PSNI because he wanted to play his part in making our society a better place. Many members of our club were aware of Ronan’s career path and supported him on his choice,” he said.
“The GAA stands shoulder to shoulder with the Kerr family, the PSNI and the entire community in condemning outright this murder. We also send a strong message to all those people who continue to engage in this activity. You have no support in our community and your actions do not represent the views and feelings of the vast majority of the people in Ireland,” added Mr Ó Treasaigh.
Tyrone county chairman Ciarán McLaughlin said the GAA was “unequivocal” in its condemnation of the murder, which “demeaned humanity”. “The GAA has a longstanding and publicly stated policy of opposition to violence. There is no greater right than the right of life, and it needs to be protected,” he added.