Kate honoured by former US President

KATE Carroll has been praised by former US President Bill Clinton for her "remarkable" efforts to encourage peace in Northern Ireland following the murder of her husband Constable Stephen Carroll in March 2009.

Mr Clinton, who was heavily involved in political negotitations here including the mammoth peace talks that resulted in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, sent the letter to commend Kate for the work she is now doing in Constable Carroll’s name.

Kate, who has become involved in cross-community group Parents and Kids Together (PAKT) since her PSNI husband’s death during a hoax police call-out in Craigavon, said she was honoured to received the letter from Mr Clinton.

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The letter read, “As you know, I was honoured to help advance peace negotiations during my Presidency, and I'm glad to see that citizens are speaking out against terrorism and violence.

“Your contributions are a remarkable tribute to the memory of your husband, and I hope you'll continue this important work.”

The police widow is currently trying to organise a trip to New York for herself and injured PSNI officer Constable Peadar Heffron but has unwittingly walked into a sectarian row over the visit.

Kate, Constable Heffron and his wife Fiona have all been invited to the New York Police Department’s bi-annual GAA tournament next year but, while raising money for the trip, a row has erupted over the sponsorship form, which features both the GAA and the PSNI logos.

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“It's ridiculous. This has left me in tears,” Kate told the Belfast Telegraph.

“People from one side of the community won't touch it because it mentions the PSNI and some on the other side refuse to get involved because of the GAA logo.

“Others have given quite willingly - and they know who they are. But I’ve felt totally disillusioned by those who don’t want to know and it has upset me a lot.

“Most local people have been so helpful and supportive since Steve's death and it's a pity a sectarian element has crept into this.

“It wasn’t even the disrespect towards Steve that bothered me the most. The two emblems there together on the same piece of paper would have meant history being made,” she added.