‘Last night’s attack on the community of Newtownhamilton and the police serving that community was a futile attempt to drag us back to a conflict that people on both sides of the border have intentionally and definitively left behind for ever. Small, secretive coteries of dissidents will not deflect us from continuing the journey towards a peaceful and reconciled society.

‘However, no one should down-play the distress for the local community caused by the fear, disruption and injury which is the outcome of these actions. Our sympathy and prayers for a full recovery go to the people injured in Newtownhamilton last night. We call upon all political representatives and electoral candidates in Northern Ireland at this time to stand together in solidarity with the people of Newtownhamilton and the PSNI and to reaffirm a cross-community commitment to the primacy of the ballot box as the only legitimate way of determining the future for all citizens.’

The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh
The Most Revd Gerard Clifford, Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh