Two events in Co Tyrone to show solidarity with DCI John Caldwell
TWO events will be held in Co Tyrone at the weekend to show solidarity with DCI John Caldwell.
The community is expected to come together on Saturday to send a clear message that the majority of people do not want to go "back to the past".
At Beragh Swifts FC, where the off-duty police officer is a football coach, a walk of solidarity in support of him will take place tomorrow.
The club wrote on social media that the walk had been organised for their "volunteer youth coach and most of all our friend".
Posting on social media, it said: "We invite everyone to Beragh on Saturday to join us in a walk of solidarity".
It will begin at the clubhouse at 10.30am with the club inviting participants to "join us wearing your sports club colours".
Read more: DCI John Caldwell is 'critically ill and heavily sedated' as four men remain in custody
Beragh Swifts FC have suspended all club activities until further notice since the shooting on Wednesday.
A protest rally will also be held in Omagh tomorrow.
The ‘No Going Back’ rally, organised by Omagh Trade Union Council, will take place at Omagh Courthouse on High Street at 11.30am.
Secretary Anton McCabe said the rally aims to make it clear that the community wants to "reject any attempt or any move sending us back to the past".
"These events always awaken remembrances of people of what our society went through for many years, the violence and injustices of the Troubles years," he told the BBC.
"I think it is a chance as well, a time when we have to say we do not wish to go back.
"Events like the shooting of DCI Caldwell, of John, that has also reawakened the trauma and the very fact events in any way connected to the bomb does inevitably raise hurt
"A very high percentage of the people of this area was affected by the bomb."
Mr McCabe added that in Omagh, there "is a good history of reacting to such events as one community".
"That is why as a trade union movement, we are taking the initiative on this, because we do bring in workers from right across the spectrum," he said.
"We hope it will be a short rally that will make the point that we are not going back."
