Vocabulary in the News: Republican Group Own Up To Northern Ireland Shooting

Taken from Sky News. You may visit the article HERE

A dissident republican group called the Continuity IRA have said they were behind the the murder of police constable Stephen Carroll in Northern Ireland.

In a coded message, they said the shooting in Craigavon was carried out by their north Armagh battalion.

The message said: "As long as there is British involvement in Ireland, these attacks will continue."

Mr Carroll, 48, was shot dead as he and a colleague went to investigate a woman's call for help in the predominantly Catholic Lismore Manor area.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward condemned the murder as the work of "evil criminals" intent on destroying the peace.

He told Sky News: "These very wicked people may have the power to kill but they do not have the power to wreck the peace process."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who visited Ireland on Monday, insisted: "There will be no return to the old days."

Mr Carroll, from Banbridge, County Down, was an experienced officer with more than 20 years service.

Married with children, he was reportedly sitting in his car when he was shot in the head at close range.

It was the first police killing in Northern Ireland for 11 years and followed the murder of British soldiers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, on Saturday.

Another dissident Republican group the Real IRA have claimed responsibility for that attack, at the Massereene Barracks in Antrim.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Sir Hugh Orde has described Mr Carroll's killers as "criminal psychopaths".

He vowed: "We will pursue those responsible to the ends of the earth."

Calling for the public to help detectives, he added: "Collectively, I am clear, we will solve these crimes. We will deliver justice and we will allow the peace process to continue."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said: "I unreservedly condemn this evil deed and offer my sincere sympathy to the officer's family circle."

Sinn Fein Assembly Member for the Craigavon area John O'Dowd declared: "This is an attack on the peace process."

The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) have been warning of a heightened threat from dissident gunmen for some time.

Meanwhile, it is hoped a getaway car used by the Real IRA killers of the two soldiers on Saturday could provide vital clues.

The green Vauxhall Cavalier was found seven miles from the Massereene Barracks. Attempts to set it alight had failed.

Detectives are also combing CCTV footage of the shooting in which four other people were wounded, one seriously.

The attackers opened fire as the soldiers went to collect delivery pizzas outside the front gate of the army base.

to be behind something	-	to be responsible for EX. The government suspects terrorists are behind the attack
a shooting	-	firing with rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver at stationary or moving targets EX. The police just got a report about a shooting at the local high school.
to carry out	-	to accomplish, bring to a conclusion; put into practice or effect EX. The military unit carried out their mission with success.
as long as	-	on the condition that EX. I will cooperate as long as I am notified on time. during the time that EX. I’ll stay as long as you need me.
involvement (uncount noun)	-	being engaged as a participant, being engaged in the interests of EX. It is very important that there is parent involvement in a child’s education.
predominantly	-	principally, mainly, largely EX. The gendarmes are afraid to go into the predominantly Muslim neighborhood.
intent on	-	determined to do something, to be resolute on EX. She seems intent on specializing in family law.
wicked	-	evil by nature and in practice EX. Winston Churchill described Hitler as a wicked man, a repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred.
to wreck	-	to cause the destruction of; to dismantle, tear down EX. Certain political and religious factions are trying to wreck any possibility of peace between Israel and Palestine.
reportedly	-	according to reports or other information, supposedly EX. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, will reportedly not leave his television career to become Surgeon General.
at close range	-	very nearby EX. At close range, the rock band was unbearably loud.
to claim responsibility	-	to state that oneself is responsible for something, to own up to  EX. Five terrorism suspects in the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba have claimed responsibility for the attacks of September 11, 2001.
to solve	-	to clear up or explain (a mystery, crime, etc.) EX. That crime has never been solved.
unreservedly	-	without reservation, without condition or exception EX. I can unreservedly recommend that restaurant.
an evil deed	-	a very bad and wicked act EX. The attack on the World Trade Towers was an evil deed.
a heightened threat	-	a high possibility of attack EX. The United States faces a heightened threat of terrorist attack “for the foreseeable future” but any attack will likely be homegrown, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.
a getaway car	-	the car or vehicle used by criminals to escape or run from a crime scene EX. The bank robbers had an accomplice waiting in their getaway car parked outside the bank so he could quickly drive them away from the bank.
vital clues	-	necessary evidence to help solve a mystery EX. The hair samples found were vital clues to who might have been at the scene of the crime.
to set it alight	-	to set on fire EX. The fire started when he fell asleep while smoking and the hot ashes set his bed sheets alight.
to comb	-	to make a thorough search EX. During the tax audit, the auditors combed through all of the company’s files.
footage (uncount noun)	-	a shot or series of shots on film of a specific nature or subject EX. The new World War II documentary had color footage of the war.
wounded	-	hurt, injured EX. Due to the intense battle, they had to leave the wounded soldiers where they fell.
to open fire	-	to begin firing on EX. Pakistan's military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another raid across the Afghan border.

As an added exercise, use your dictionaries to find other definitions of the words, other usages, variations and synonyms.