The fact that dissident republicans mounted a determined attempt to kill police officers within hours of Martin McGuinness's death, shows we still have some way to go to achieve the peace and stability the vast majority of people on this island wish to see.
Indeed, it is deeply depressing that while people mourned McGuinness the peacemaker, there were some individuals whose overwhelming priority was trying to take life.
PSNI Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said it was "incredibly lucky'' that no one was killed after a device exploded near a police patrol in the Townsend Street area on Tuesday evening.
This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on the PSNI in recent months. The death of Mr McGuinness has revived memories of his courageous denunciation of dissident republicans following the brutal murder of Constable Stephen Carroll in March 2009.
That despicable crime came just days after a murderous gun attack on Massereene barracks which left two soldiers - Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar - dead.
Mr McGuinness took an enormous risk in standing up to the dissidents and received a death threat following his forthright comments.
As we know, the violent groups have continued to bring death and injury and many activists have ended up in prison.
But despite their ongoing campaign, they have not managed to advance their cause one iota in the eight years since they were denounced by Mr McGuinness.
It is a matter of deep regret that no matter how far Martin McGuinness was able to bring the republican movement on the journey of reconciliation, there remains a small but dangerous number wedded to bloodshed.
As the shocking and horrific scenes in London yesterday remind us, violent extremism is never the answer.
Mr McGuinness came to understand we have to find a way to live together in peace, respecting difference but building a mutually respectful society.
It is a lesson the dissidents are taking a long time to learn.
