Mother feels sorry for her PC son's killers

Constable Ronan Kerr
Constable Kerr, 25, was killed by a booby trap by dissident republicans Photo: Police Service Northern Ireland

Scroll down for ITV News' interview with Ronan Kerr's mother

The mother of a policeman murdered in Northern Ireland nearly one year ago said his dissident republican killers have achieved nothing.

Nuala Kerr said she felt sorry for those responsible for the death of her son Ronan, as they would always live with the guilt of taking a life.

With no one yet charged over the attack, she urged the perpetrators to hand themselves in.

I actually feel sorry for people like that being brought up and indoctrinated into the belief that killing somebody is actually going to achieve something."

I feel sorry for people who think that - that it's okay to kill somebody.

How is it ever going to be okay to kill somebody, you are going to have to live with that for the rest of your life?"

– Nuala Kerr

Constable Kerr, 25, from Beragh, Co Tyrone, died when a booby trap bomb exploded under his car in nearby Omagh on April 2 last year.

Ronan Kerr killed in Northern Ireland
Police attend the scene of the bomb attack that killed Ronan Kerr Credit: Reuters

The Catholic gaelic footballer, who had been in the force for only three weeks, was apparently targeted in a bid to scare other young nationalists from joining Northern Ireland's new-look police service.

In the wake of the murder, Mrs Kerr made an emotional plea for Catholic trainee recruits and police officers to defy the killers and continue to serve.