Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton says posters erected in Derry are “cruel and disgusting”
The posters have been put in certain parts of Derry by dissident republicans and depict Contable Paedar Heffron.
He was injured in 2010 when a dissident republican bomb exploded under his car as he drove to work.
The posters went up 24 hours after police warned members of Sinn Fein’s leadership that dissident republicans planned to attack them over their public support at a PSNI recruitment drive earlier this month.
The PSNI said today that they are aware of posters circulating in the Derry area.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “ These posters can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service.
“The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve, commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe, have nothing to offer our society and should be condemned by all right thinking people.
“I would urge anyone who comes across these posters, either online or physically, not to share or circulate this material further.”
The posters have also been condemned by Sinn Fein.
The party’s Foyle MLA Martina Anderson said those responsible for erecting the “crass and offensive posters” in Derry were aimed at intimidating the people of the city.
Said the former MEP: “Posters were erected in Derry last night in a disgusting attempt to intimidate the people of the city.
Policeman Peadar Heffron left in a wheelchair for life after car bomb attack in 2010
“Sinn Féin is working to achieve an accountable, civic and representative policing service which polices with all the community.
“The erection of these posters comes on the heels of attempts to intimidate the journalist, Leona O’Neill, and staff at the Andersonstown News and threats to Joint Head of Government Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly.
“This is happening at a time when the debate on Irish unity and change in Irish society has taken centre stage.
“Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer, they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything.
“It’s well past time they got off the backs of the community.
“This tactic is disgusting and disgraceful and comes and comes from an unrepresentative groups with little support in the community.
“Everyone should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation.”
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