Poignant anniversary tribute to fallen officer Stephen Carroll

Police in Craigavon have posted a poignant social media tribute to fallen colleague Stephen Carroll on the twelfth anniversary of his murder by dissident republicans.
PSNI Constable Stephen CarrollPSNI Constable Stephen Carroll
PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll

Branding his killers “vermin,” the Facebook message urges everyone to carry out a random act of kindness in memory of the 48-year-old officer.

Constable Carroll was shot dead as he responded to an emergency call from a woman in Lismore Manor who had a brick thrown through her window.

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It later emerged that the attack had been staged to lure police into a terrorist trap.

The message on the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon PSNI Facebook site said: “It’s been 12 years since our colleague Stephen Carroll was murdered.

“Today we remember a colleague who went to work one day 12 years ago, responded to a call to protect the community and because of the cowardly actions of others, never made it home to his family. Today we are thinking of Stephen, a colleague and friend, and keep his wife Kate and the wider Carroll family in our thoughts.”

The post also contains a tribute from a colleague who was on duty with Const Carroll the night he died.

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Written in 2018, it said: “The officers attending knew of an increased threat of an attack in this specific area. More so given the cowardly murder of two young off-duty, unarmed soldiers less than 48 hours earlier. They attended this call for help regardless.

“The first car went to the house. As the second car made to turn in the small cul-de-sac, a burst of automatic gunfire struck the vehicle, fatally wounding my driver, Stephen Carroll. The vermin who carried out this act quickly skulked off into the darkness, their evil deed done.

“A family robbed of a husband, a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather. A unit robbed of a friend and colleague. Our community robbed of an honest, decent and diligent peeler.

“To all of you who read this. I’d ask one small favour, in memory of my friend. Today do one good thing you wouldn’t normally do. Put a pound in a charity box. Phone someone you’ve not been in touch with for ages. Make a coffee for your workmates. However small a gesture, do something. For a bunch of small, good gestures to sprout from one dreadful act would be a fitting way to remember Stevie.”

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