Nuala Kerr, the mother of murdered Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr, has urged other Catholics not to be deterred from joining the police by his death.
'This is at a time when we are striving for a neutral police force for the good of our country and I urge all Catholic members not to be deterred by this. We all need to stand up and be counted and to strive for equality.'
'We do not want to go back into the dark days again of fear and terror. We were so proud of Ronan and all that he stood for. Do not let his death be in vain.'
Mrs Kerr said she was also speaking on behalf of his two brothers Cathair and Aaron and sister Dairine. Their father Brian died some time ago.
'He was a wonderful son and brother, always had a smile and a helping hand for everyone. He had all the attributes of a great police officer - fair, empathetic, intelligent, humorous, a great communicator and loyal to all who knew him. And he just loved his work.'
The family were being comforted at the family home at Drumduff, near Omagh, this afternoon.
Ronan's brother Aaron was travelling home from Australia for Mother's Day and learned the news on a stopover in the United Arab Emirates when he checked Facebook.
Earlier, the Police Federation has said that the murder of Constable Kerr in Omagh, will not deter others from joining the force.
Unionist and republican politicians in Northern Ireland have thrown their weight behind the hunt for bombers of the 25-year-old who hailed as a 'peacemaker.'
Elsewhere, the PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott paid tribute and Constable Kerr as a modern-day hero, adding that he had paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace.
Constable Kerr, who graduated just three weeks ago, died after a device exploded under his car outside his home yesterday afternoon.
Dissident republicans are been blamed, but no group has as yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
At a news conference, Mr Baggott said tragedy had returned to Omagh and he appealed for public support in bringing those responsible to justice.
He said: 'We have lost one of our brave and courageous police recruits, someone who joined this fine service simply to do good, joined to serve the community impartially and to be someone I describe as a modern-day hero.
'I am immensely proud to be associated with my colleague Ronan, who has paid the ultimate price and sacrifice for the future of Northern Ireland.
'We need these people to be given up. We need these people to be taken out of communities and given up so that justice can be done. We need good information.'
Mr Baggott added: 'A mother has lost her brave son, made all the more horrific that it is Mothers' Day today.
'I can't imagine what they are going through, but I saw their grief at first hand last night.'
The explosion happened as the officer got into his car in the residential Highfield Close development, off the main Gortin Road.
It is understood the constable was leaving to start a shift at Enniskillen police station, Co Fermanagh, when he was killed.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited the Kerr home in Beragh, Co Tyrone last night and said Constable Kerr was a credit to his family and his community.
Widespread condemnation of bomb attack
The murder has been condemned by politicians at home and abroad.
President Mary McAleese said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the attack.
'This heinous crime will not succeed in its evil intent of destroying the peaceful and democratic future to which the people of Northern Ireland are so clearly committed.'
Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the bomb attack as a heinous and pointless act of terror.
He said: 'Those who carried it out want to drag us back to the misery and pain of the past. They are acting in defiance of the Irish people.'
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the young officer had dedicated himself to serving the entire community of Northern Ireland.
'Those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past,' he warned.
'Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people from all parts of the community.'
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson urged young Catholics not to be deterred from joining the police 'by those who have nothing to offer our society'.
He said the people of Co Tyrone will unite behind the family of Mr Kerr.
Mr McGuinness said the perpetrators had 'betrayed the community' and had 'no role to play in our future'.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr McGuinness said the killing will be rejected by the vast majority of people and it was everybody's duty and responsibility to assist the police on both sides of the border.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said he spoke for all Assembly parties in condemning the 'callous' murder
Mr Ford said: 'Not only do I do that on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, but on behalf of the southern government as well.
'It is absolutely clear that the small number of people intent on carrying out acts of terrorism stand totally against the wishes of the vast majority of the people of Ireland, north and south.'
The Ulster Council of the GAA has condemned the murder of the police officer who was a member of the local GAA club in Beragh.
'Futile' attempt to destroy progress - Adams
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the attack was 'a futile attempt to destroy the progress that has been made' in the peace process.
He said: 'This action and those responsible for it must be totally rejected. I am calling upon those involved to stop and to stop now.'
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whose husband, former president Bill Clinton, played a major role in the peace process, said her government strongly condemned the murder in Omagh.
'The perpetrators of this cowardly act represent the failures of the past and their actions run counter to the achievements, aspirations, and collective will of the people of Northern Ireland,' she said.
'We echo the unequivocal condemnations by Northern Ireland's politicians and call on anyone with information to co-operate fully and expediently with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.'
