The RUC are questioning five people in connection with the murder of a 59-year-old woman in Portadown. Elizabeth O'Neill died when a pipe bomb was thrown through the window of her home at Corcrain Drive early this morning. The Loyalist Volunteer Force has denied that it was involved in the murder. But the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has told RTÉ that he is not treating the paramilitaries’ statement at face value. He said he had no doubt that an organisation was involved in the wave of bomb attacks across the north last night, although he declined to be more specific.
The Church of Ireland Primate condemned the bombing and offered his sympathy to the family of Elizabeth O'Neill. Condemning all attacks in the town as further attempts to raise community tensions, Dr. Robin Eames appealed for calm. Speaking in Portadown, David Trimble said that sectarianism had been a significant factor in the incidents. It was a time for calm and reflection and not a time for people to “hug their grievances” as he put it. Elizabeth O'Neill was married, with an adult family. Her husband, who was in the house at the time, escaped injury. The murder has drawn widespread condemnation, with David Trimble describing it as an attempt to wreck the efforts to find a solution to the Drumcree crisis that must not be allowed succeed.
The attack happened in the early hours in the mainly Loyalist Estate where the 59-year-old woman had lived with her husband in a mixed marriage for many years. A brick shattered her living room window, and was followed by a pipe bomb. It is believed that the victim was attempting to pick up the device when it exploded. The family was too distraught to talk this morning and local politicians were unanimous in their condemnation.
They were led by the area’s MP, David Trimble, who said that the bomb was an attempt to derail the Drumcree proximity talks that should not be allowed succeed. First Minister Trimble altered plans to fly to Israel to remain in the North. Bríd Rodgers of the SDLP said that the murder was the culmination of 11 months of intimidation of Nationalists in the town. As he arrived at the talks Brendan McCionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents, said that the murder cast a shadow over their efforts.
The fatal attack was one of a series across the North with a family living a few hundred yards away in the Portadown estate escaping injury. Other pipe bombs were thrown in Castlewellan Co. Down and in East Belfast, but no-one was hurt. The murder puts renewed pressure on the attempts to find a resolution to the Drumcree March crisis. Proximity talks between Orange Order representatives and residents of the Garvaghy Road are to resume in Belfast this morning. 6 hours of discussions ended without agreement yesterday.
It is understood that the Orangemen have been in contact with the British Prime Minister's Office to express their concern at the way the talks are going. Frank Blair, who is chairing the talks has put proposals on the table, it is understood that he has suggested a parade down the Garvaghy Road this year, but a change in the route in future years.
