BY NUALA MCALOON
POLICE have resumed a search in Garrison for evidence in relation to the attempted murder of a Catholic police officer in the village last weekend.
A spokesperson confirmed that a search took place on Monday and resumed again yesterday (Tuesday) morning.
It comes after two men appeared in court charged with attempting to murder the young officer who had only recently joined the force.
It has since emerged that one of the accused, Gerard McManus, was a reserve soldier in the Irish Army. He joined the Irish Defence forces in 2000 and was a member of the Carndonagh unit in Donegal. However, he had not participated or shown up for parading duties in two years and a process to dismiss McManus had already commenced.
Following the incident, which was foiled by a major undercover police intelligence operation, the PSNI's chief constable Matt Baggott visited Garrison and the scene of the shooting last Wednesday.
While there, he met with officers who serve in the area and spoke to members of the business community and political representatives. He then went to Enniskillen where he met members of Fermanagh District Council.
He said he was delighted with the overwhelming support of communities in the county for their police officers.
"I have spoken to shopkeepers and people in the street and everybody has said that they really respect the PSNI and what we are doing. They have absolutely no time for people who are trying to injure police officers or take us back into the past."
He said the operation in Garrison had been 'a superb piece of policing on behalf of everybody'.
"We have a minority of people who, for some reason, do not see that the future must be different. I have always said the terrorist threat is serious, and we have seen that over the weekend.
"The greatest thing we can do is isolate the people who are terrorists in their own communities so that the vast majority of people see good policing. That is what we are doing in a very exciting way and we are world leaders in neighbourhood policing.
In terms of investigating terrorism and crime, he added: "The challenge is that we have to turn information into evidence. Suspicion is not enough. That is where the community can play its part. If there is any information about anyone involved in terrorism, or involved in crime we would like to know more about them and then we can do more."
SDLP MLA Tommy Gallagher was one of those who met with the chief constable when he came to Garrison.
He confirmed that a police search in the village was on-going and urged the community to remain patient as investigations continued.
"I have been told by the PSNI that searches are on-going and that they have received the co-operation of the local people in relation to the incident. They have expressed their appreciation to the community for their patience and I would appeal for that co-operation to continue.
"Councillor Gerry Gallagher and myself met the chief constable when he visited Garrison last week. He too expressed his appreciation for the patience of the local people and their co-operation in assisting police enquiries."
Meanwhile, detectives from the PSNI's serious crime branch, which is investigating the shooting, are appealing to the public for information on the movements of a blue coloured Vauxhall Astra car, registration number UBZ 6206.
Detectives are urging anyone who may have sighted the car in the Fermanagh area on Saturday, November 21 to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively, information about crime can be passed anonymously on 0800 555 111.
