The Bishop of County Down and Dromore has joined cross border condemnation of a bomb in the North yesterday.

A prison officer suffered serious injuries and had to undergo surgery after the device partially detonated under his van as he drove to work in Belfast.

The 52-year-old married father of three remains a stable condition in hospital.

Detectives are examining the possibility that the bomb may have dislodged from the vehicle as it went over a speed bump.

Bishop Harold Miller has said the attack has sent shockwaves through the community: “Everybody like every single reaction on the radio and television, one of shock, one of being really quite depressed and hoping things would not start up again.”