Horrific scenes from Paris this weekend, the tragic aftermath of co-ordinated terrorist attacks which left over 120 dead and hundreds of others injured, really put things into perspective.

Life should be for living, loving and freedom not murder, hatred and fear. In Northern Ireland, we know too well the consequences and pain of violence: injury, death, trauma, division.

A place previously embroiled by violence and wholly transformed by political agreement, notwithstanding friends and relatives caught up in events elsewhere Northern Ireland has, thankfully, been largely shielded from what we now know as modern global terrorism.

The peace we have in Northern Ireland is not perfect, but for the most part killings have stopped. Our politics might not be perfect either, but institutions of government – shared government – provide a platform for representation through dialogue as opposed to weapons.

Following Friday’s attacks, French citizens and visitors remain shaken yet together defiant in the face of terror. In solidarity they show that democracy and liberty will prevail over violence.

Unlike other places such as Beirut, also attacked last weekend, in Northern Ireland images of violence and attempts at coercing others by bullets and bombs are no longer commonplace.

A lot of work is still to be done here to bring down psychological as well as actual real dividing walls between ‘communities’, to ensure that those of different religions and political affiliations in future do genuinely live together.

The fact that this is now considered achievable and elected politicians, despite some disagreements, do largely share similar aspirations is something we ought to be glad of and grateful for.

Responding in solidarity against paramilitary violence and against hate crimes committed by disruptive minorities, and by opening arms to refugees hoping to come here, people of all faiths and backgrounds across Northern Ireland are known for their generosity of spirit.

Across the globe, individuals and groups purporting evil aims may seek to terrorise but their arguments may never win. Truth and freedom must overcome.

At home sometimes we are guilty of focusing more upon what’s going wrong politically rather than what’s going right.

Reflecting on recent acts of terror in Paris and elsewhere, we mourn the lives lost, we deplore the violence; we remember how fortunate we have been since conflict in Northern Ireland came to an end.