Chai Brady
Archbishop Eamon Martin A hate campaign launched by the New IRA against the Primate of All-Ireland Eamon Martin has been condemned after intimidating posters were plastered outside St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry.
Archbishop Eamon was targeted because he has been encouraging young Catholics to join the PSNI.
In a parish newsletter published in February, the archbishop wrote: “I encourage the very best of our young people to seriously consider a career in the police.
“Help to shape the future of policing here and serve your community with generosity, concern, respect and courage.”
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: “The people of Derry have consistently endorsed parties who support involvement with the PSNI.
“We are there to hold the PSNI to account because we need a police service to serve the community. Posters like these achieve nothing and I am glad that they have been removed.”
Following a meeting of Church leaders with Chief Constable Simon Byrne of the PSNI, in December, Archbishop Eamon told this paper he had “concerns” about the future balance of community representation and called for Catholics to consider the “noble vocation” and for communities to encourage and support them.
“I think now to have that visibility of policing as a legitimate noble career at our careers fairs and days in schools and also of course in our parish bulletins and to let people know that this is something that has the support of your church and hopefully then also other community leaders and political leaders will weigh in behind as well. I think that it’s a united effort of all of us to try to really lift the recruitment of young Catholics into the police,” Archbishop Eamon said.