Stephen Farry stated:
“This was a callous attack that could have very easily caused significant loss of life. There was no adequate time for evacuation, and indeed the bomb exploded as people were being evacuated and while some people were still in their homes.
“This was an attack clearly timed to coincide with the devolution of policing and justice. Just as this society is moving further forward, there are those hardcore elements who are determined to try to drag us back. Today’s votes in the Assembly were a strong rejection of these elements.
“This was not just an attack on Palace Barracks and those stationed there, including the Security Service, but also on the people of Holywood. Considerable inconvenience has been caused to local people, disrupted from their sleep, missing work, worried about medication, those looking after children, and our senior citizens.”