Rishi Sunak’s private meeting with Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell follows the officer’s recovery after a terrorist attack earlier this year.
During his recent visit to Belfast to meet with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took the opportunity to privately visit Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, a senior PSNI officer who was shot earlier this year in Co Tyrone. The visit, which took place at a hospital in the north-west, was not publicly announced by the PSNI, who described it as a private matter.
Liam Kelly, Chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, expressed the significance of Sunak’s visit, emphasising the support it offered both to Mr Caldwell and the PSNI officers facing ongoing terrorist threats. Kelly stated, “The Prime Minister’s visit demonstrates his support for John as he recovers from the vicious attack in Omagh. It also reflects his alignment with the officers who continue to work in challenging and dangerous conditions.”
The visit came shortly after US President Biden addressed the attack on Mr Caldwell in his speech at Ulster University. Biden condemned the perpetrators and reiterated that “the enemies of peace will not prevail” in Northern Ireland, highlighting the resilience of the region’s people and leadership.
Earlier this year, Mr Caldwell was critically injured when he was targeted by dissident republicans from the New IRA, a group that opposes the peace process. The shooting has had life-changing consequences for Caldwell, whose recovery is ongoing.
Biden, in his speech, recognised the response of Northern Ireland’s political leaders to the attack, stating that the attack was a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges to peace. He remarked, “Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God,” underscoring the necessity of perseverance and hard work in times of fragility.
The region’s terrorism threat level has recently been raised to severe, indicating the high likelihood of future attacks. This heightened concern comes after disturbances in Londonderry over the Easter period, where pipe bombs were found and violence erupted during a republican commemoration.
