Murder of Stephen Carroll

Two days before the attack the Real IRA shot dead two British soldiers in Massereene, County Antrim.

[3] Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that "These are murderers who are trying to distort, disrupt and destroy a political process that is working for the people of Northern Ireland," Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde called it a "sad day" and said the gunmen were "criminal psychopaths".

[4] Richard Walsh, the spokesman for Republican Sinn Féin, a party linked to the Continuity IRA, said the killings were "an act of war" rather than murder.

"We have always upheld the right of the Irish people to use any level of controlled and disciplined force to drive the British out of Ireland.

"[5][6] McConville and Wooton have become known as the ‘Craigavon 2’ amongst Irish Republicans and Miscarriage of Justice campaigners who claim their innocence.