Ronan Kerr, the young policeman killed in a booby trap car bomb in Northern Ireland yesterday, has been remembered as a “modern-day hero” by colleagues.
PC Kerr, 25, had graduated from training college last December. He was living in Omagh, Co Tyrone, and had only been serving in the area for weeks.
It is understood the victim, a former pupil of the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh, was targeted outside his home as he left to start a shift at Enniskillen police station, Co. Fermanagh. He died after climbing into his booby-trapped Ford Mondeo shortly before 4pm to leave for work.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) temporary Superintendent Pauline Shields said: “He has literally been with us for weeks.
“In those few weeks that he has served this community he has made an indelible mark on those colleagues and those members of the public with whom he has come into contact.”
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PC Kerr had joined the police service last May and underwent extensive training. PC Kerr first joined the Neighbourhood policing team in Enniskillen before moving to a response role at the end of last month.
He was one of a crop of young Catholics attracted by the 50/50 recruitment policy designed to rebalance the mainly Protestant force. That policy only ended recently.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott paid tribute to his aspiring colleague.
“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,” he said.
Mr Baggott said PC Kerr had “proven himself a good and dedicated officer in the short time he was with us”.
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“He had joined the police because he was willing to stand up and serve his community. No words could adequately describe the shock and sense of loss being felt by his colleagues and the residents of Omagh today,” he said.
A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “A painstaking investigation will now commence and no effort will be spared to find those responsible for Ronan’s murder and bring them to justice.”