Ahh here we fecking go again.

Just saw it reported, they are saying its a fatal shooting now. confirmation from psni.

disgusting.

i posted yesterday about massarene but my post disappeared without trace. I came on expecting to see more threads about it or something in the way of revulsion. I was surprised that no one appeared to give the two threads on it a thought.

(apologies if i missed a thread that had anything on it other than mine and nicks)

AND some kind of security thing in Cookstown.

QueenBee, I didn't see your post, but this just leaves me so, speachless, or something.

I was up with some of the press yesterday in Masserene yesterday, and today seems to answer the all pervading question of what next?

Suspect Devices found at Lurgan PSNI station and Cookstown SF Office.

Goody. I love this place, I do. Swear.

Feck.

I just have the most sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach ☹️

Please dont let this be the start of another era, when things were just seeming to settle☹️

I'm sitting in Edinburgh horrified at the news. I'm coming home this weekend for a christening and to be honest, things like this make me not want to visit NI again.

no-one wants this, why are they doing it again and what do they hope to achieve?

looks like this policeman was sitting in his car on patrol and has been shot in the head. (according to sky)

edited to add that i'm northern irish and have lived in edinburgh for 3 years now. breaks my heart that our wee country is being held to ransom like this again.

utterly shocking

Just awful - and like you i was surprised not to see any comment on here

i didnt make one myself because i dont feel i understand or know enough to make one - and the more any one tries to help me understand the more it bobbles my head

all i do know is that i am so sad for the people killed and hurt in this and desparately hoping that this wont herald full on blood shed and fear again - i know that is probably very soppy and naive but wanted to at least acknowledge this

I promote Northern Ireland to everyone and have spent years telling people what a wonderful place it is. I've been discussing "the troubles" since i've come to edinburgh as people always thought the worst of NI because of the reporting from it.

I went into work today to a thousand questions and i'm sure the same again tomorrow. its horrible that all the hard work that's gone in to the peace process is being destroyed over night.

heartfelt sympathies to the families of the injured and dead from this household.

<cynic>I always thought this would happen once the good time money ran out </cynic>

B*stards, the lot of them. May they all rot in hell.

Oh no ☹️

I so hope this is a flash in the pan and it's not a return to the bad old days.

I am taking my children home for the first time ever as H has always never wanted to go in 3 weeks, I can't believe this is all starting up again, it's so sad as things had really settled. My auntie who lives by the Derry walls said last night she really felt the tension as she came back from work through the town.

Im a Derry girl Titchbunny. Is that where youre from?

I ve just got up and read this again, and echo what the others said about feels like all hard work is being undone.

I have a 12 and 14 year old and hoped that they wouldnt have to grow up listening to this kind of thing happening week in week out.

Makes me feel sadly sick.☹️

QueenBee,

Im from Derry, but my sister lives in Edinburgh the last few years.

She had a friend over at the weekend who was visiting for the first time , and had a lovely time.

So makes me sad to think she will be reading all this in the papers so soon after and cloud her judgement.

And i know what you mean about how everyone else perceives(sp) Northen Ireland, and how we were just starting to break that reputation. Sickening.

I was born in Derry but spent my first couple of years in Buncrana, then we came to the Lakes, I am now in Cornwall.

I kept going back and forth until I was about 11 as my mum was ill a lot and I spopped with my granny in Shantella(not sure about the spelling) most of my family live around the Derry walls area now.

When I heard about the soldiers I was shocked but fairly hopeful that it was a one off.

When I heard about the police officer during the night it made me fear that this might be the start of something bigger. I really, really hope not.

I know very little about Northern Ireland but I do know that lots of lives were lost and many peoples lives were seriously affected so I'll be praying that this is the end.

This is awful. i'm another who hasn't commented becuase N.Ireland confuses me. Mostly I don't understand how people who've commited awful acts can go free as part of the peace process, why people want to go on parades every two minutes when they know it causes trouble and why ireland isn't just one country.

I hate this, I really really hate it.

I'm from Dublin and would love to know who the feck these barbarians think they're representing.

As others have said, just when things are starting to turn around. It's abhorrent.

As a slight aside, I was in Dub a couple of weeks ago and was quite disturbed to see Eirigi stands set up in a couple of places in the City. They were very annoyed when they gave MrPod a copy of the declaration and he said 'cheers mate'

Lol small world.

I live in Pennyburn. Down Road from Shantallow.?

But few years ago my mum and dad moved down to Buncrana. lol

Luckily my sisters friend who was over at the weekend for the first time spent most of weekend in Buncrana.

I'm gutted. I'm not Irish myself, but my mum's from Belfast, and her parents are from Co Tyrone and Dublin. All through the troubles, my cousin and I spent at least 2 holidays a year in Belfast (admittedly on the Stranmllis Road, so not exactly the sectarian heart) and I clearly remember my Grandpa's tension whenever we went out, asking us not to talk in certain parts of town in case people heard our English accents.

I love NI, and the idea that the Real IRA might take over where the old IRA left off fills me with horror. I hope, at least, that they won't have the same funding from the US as before, I don't know - has the political landscape changed enough?

Welcome to our world.lol

And (IMO) one word answer. MONEY.

If peace process goes ahead, a lot of ridiculously paid 'politicians' will be out of paypackets for doing sweet FA.

And the peace process was going ahead because of all the money being thrown in, and as someone said, it must be running low now. (IMO)

I have lived in NI all my life and really did think that all this was all over and done with. I don't want to get into this argument about why we don't become all Ireland because this is the core of it all. Over on the mainland its not all England or Scotland is it? (I know it's not technically the same as it's all British but you see my point).I honestly do not care, all i want is peace and i do not want another generation growing up with this also. I believe that is a small minority trying to ruin things and they will not suceed.

It just makes me so sad, not one of those bastards are representing me or my family.

My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives :-(

I visited NI once and loved it. It truly is a beautiful part of the world and Belfast is fast becoming a vibrant city. We went over with our English accents stupidly expecting to be wandering around in silence but we were very much welcomed (which made me feel like a dick of thinking it would be an issue!). We were considering a return long weekend over in the spring and really want to make it a reality but I'm ashamed to say a little part of me is wondering if its wise which is terrible. Things like this can set the tourism industry back 10 years. Not that thats the most important thing of course but its a knock on effect of these terrible cowardly acts. My heart goes out to the families of those who have been killed.

Queen Bee - I'm in Edinburgh too......

I'm going to make myself look really stupid here but at 28, having seen some of the stuff that was going on before the peace process on TV I knew what was going on, but am I alone in that I have no idea why they are doing this?

I know that there is a long drawn out history between catholic and protestant Ireland and that some people feel that NI should not be British but Irish....but is that it??

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims and I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone in my ignorance but I honestly don't know. ?

It is so depressing and very bad news for N Ireland. The tourism will suffer immediately and businesses will stop investing. I don’t understand why IRA are attacking now either, when the economy in the Republic of Ireland is so bad it is verging on being the next Iceland. That does not exactly offer a convincing argument for a "whole" Ireland.

Im worried for my 2 friends who work in the Police in Derry, and it also makes me worry about Invest NI and that they will be starting to withdraw.

ARGH, the whole thing makes me furious! ?

God I'm disgusted this has started again but I hope upon hope that it can be nipped in the bud before it's allowed to get out of control. NI is a fabulous place and there's no room for this sort of thing anymore.

When I heard about the shootings I just thought 'Oh god not again' I'm ex-army, my dad served 3 terms in NI during the 70's, my step-dad was somehow involved with Bloody Sunday (although I'm not sure what part he took as he never talks about it as it gives him nightmares for weeks afterwards), my brother did one tour although luckily I never got posted out there (I left before they had the chance). It's horrible for all involved and my heart goes out to the families now involved.

Gah the thought of going back to checking for car bombs everytime you get in your car, not be able to disclose to anyone that you are or were a member of the armed forces etc etc, not to mention to all the people living NI at the moment wondering when the next shooting is going to occur. Just makes me shudder at the whole pointlessness of it.

I am absolutely sickened by this. No one here wants to go back to the bad days, well apart from a very small band of complete bigotted scumbags.

We have been talking here in work this morning and everyone is just digusted and saddened. Our reps have been stopped at lots of checkpoints today already out and about.

I alway promote Northern Ireland, especially Belfast on the Trip Advisor forums, tourism has done wonders for here and we want that to continue not fall away again.

I have family & friends in the security forces so im just hoping nothing else happens.

?

My brother is in the Army and just at the weekend when I spoke to him he told me to expect trouble in NI again. I was kind of dissmissive of it, sadly I wish I was right.

My sister did her degree in Northern Irish politics, so I`m sure she will be watching this situation with great interest.

My heart goes out to all the people in Northern Ireland who have been affected in the past - this must be just devastating for them.

I don't really talk about this but....

In April 1997 I was on a train in Leeds, West Yorkshire. There was an IRA bomb at the station which was detonated under controlled conditions. I was on the train nearest to the platform (we had stopped outside the station) and it was terrifying feeling it shudder and rock as the bomb went off. We were stuck there for ages.

I was on the way to an A-level conference and my dad had dropped me off. We were there on the train for two hours before we turned around and returned to Bradford - very, very slowly. A really kind man lent me his phone and I called my Dad who returned to Bradford to pick me up.

When i got back to Bradford it was only the second time I had ever seen my Dad cry. On the way back from the station the news reported that a bomb had gone off next to the 8.47 - which was the one I was on. He'd called the helpline and there was no information about casualties or anything.

That was such a small incident compared to some that people go through but it really made me think about the suffering in Ireland

It won't affect my visit to Ireland next month but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find these latest developments unsettling and I'll probably not feel as comfortable driving through some areas as I usually do. I'm more worried for the security forces than for my own personal safety though. Over the past few years I've been happy to see the watchtowers come down, the sangars disappear, the armour plating come off police patrol vehicles etc but they must be feeling pretty vulnerable right now.

The authorities face a tough challenge if attacks continue at this level. Too hardline an approach and they risk more republicans jumping ship from the peace process. Too softly softly and the PSNI and army are just sitting ducks. Worrying times.

It is extremely worrying not only from a safety perspective but also for the economy. So many companies came over to Belfast and N Ireland with the peace process and Invest NI. If they pack up and leave, those jobs wont go somewhere else in the UK, they will be outsourced to cheaper countries(I can at least talk from the point of the American company I work for) which will leave several thousands of people here unemployed. It is so frustrating.

For whoever it was that asked(sorry cant check now),

The two groups that claimed responsibilty for the attacks are both strains of IRA, and as I understand it they want "out of" the Brittish rule and for N ireland to either be its own country or to be part of the Rebublic of Ireland.

Actually the most disturbing thing about the balance of the reaction is that if there are not visible developments in a fairly short time frame it 'justifies' a reaction from the 'loyalist' side. Plenty of disaffected types there too.

Wouldn't be in Orde's job.