NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      DUBLIN (CWNews.com) - Britain's Prime Minister has described the car bomb which killed a human rights lawyer in Northern Ireland as "a disgusting act of barbarity."

      Solicitor Rosemary Nelson -- who had represented a number of Catholic and nationalist clients -- suffered serious leg injuries when the bomb went off under her car in Lurgan, County Armagh on Monday. Prime Minister Tony Blair said no effort would be spared in hunting down and bringing to justice those responsible. The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews, said the killing was clearly designed to sabotage the peace process at a critical time.

      The Church of Ireland (Episcopalian) Bishop of Down and Dromore, Bishop Harold Miller, condemned the bombing as a "cruel and appalling murder." He said he had hoped that the days of such evil deeds were past, and he was deeply saddened that there were still "coldly calculating people in our midst who are prepared to take the life of another human being."

      The Royal Ulster Constabulary said no warning had been given and no group had claimed responsibility for the bombing.