Northern Ireland

PSNI widow Kate Carroll left 'in bits' by sudden death of son

Kate Carroll, whose husband, Stephen was the first PSNI officer to be killed by paramilitaries in 2009, said she had been left "in bits" by the death of her 48-year-old son Shane. Picture by Colm Lenaghan /Pacemaker
Kate Carroll, whose husband, Stephen was the first PSNI officer to be killed by paramilitaries in 2009, said she had been left "in bits" by the death of her 48-year-old son Shane. Picture by Colm Lenaghan /Pacemaker Kate Carroll, whose husband, Stephen was the first PSNI officer to be killed by paramilitaries in 2009, said she had been left "in bits" by the death of her 48-year-old son Shane. Picture by Colm Lenaghan /Pacemaker

THE widow of the first PSNI officer to be killed has spoken of her heartbreak after the sudden death of her son.

Kate Carroll, whose husband Stephen was shot dead by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon in 2009, said she had been left "in bits" by the loss of Shane, her only child.

The father-of-10, who was 48 and her son from a previous marriage, died on Tuesday.

The much-loved family man, who was the same age as Constable Carroll when he was murdered, was found at his Banbridge home by his wife Elaine.

Kate said her heart was "really aching".

"First Steve, now Shane. It's heartbreaking. I've lost the two most precious people to me in the world over what's been happening in this country," she told the Belfast Telegraph.

The 69-year-old told how her son had struggled with the murder of his step-father and suffered from depression.

She said Shane used to "spend hours" visiting his grave.

"I'd actually thought he'd turned a corner and was getting over the depression," she said.

"Elaine and the kids weren't in the house when he passed.

"Just like Steve, it was so sudden, so devastating. Shane was always trying to be brave for me since Steve's murder but I don't think he could hide it any more."

She added: "The two most precious things in my life have been taken away and all because of this damned country.

"They took Steve; now they've taken Shane, too. He just couldn't cope with this world, couldn't get over Steve's death.

"I'm not over it either; I've just forced myself to go on. You just have to try to get up and go on, do what you can."

:: Anyone experiencing distress or despair can contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or Samaritans on 116 123.