SENIOR republicans in north Belfast have been warned by police that they are under threat from "criminal elements" weeks after the murder of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison.
Eddie Copeland and Shankill bomber Sean Kelly are among a number of people - including a 12-year-old schoolboy - to have been warned by police.
The warnings come in the wake of the murder of senior republican Davison who was shot dead in what is thought to have been a criminal revenge attack.
The 47 year-old was gunned down last week as he made his way to work at a community centre in the Markets area of the Belfast.
There has been speculation that his murder may have been in revenge for actions taken by an IRA unit during the 1990s.
The one time IRA commander had been involved in the cover group Direct Action Against Drugs during a time when the organisation gunned down at least nine drug dealers.
The mother of a grammar school pupil from north Belfast has also been warned by the PSNI that her son is under threat from criminals.
The child's father, of the same name, is a prominent republican.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the 12 year-old boy will go into the High Court in Belfast today in an attempt to secure further information about the nature of the threat.
Police revisited the schoolboy's north Belfast home yesterday (THUR) to supply precautionary security measures including outside lights, alarms and a panic button. The grammar school where the boy attends has also been informed.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday his mother said her son - a talented soccer player who has up and coming trials for an Irish league team - had been put under extreme stress by the threats.
"At first I thought there was a mistake and that the threat was for his father who has the same name", said the mother of two.
"But when I asked police if they sure, they read out my son's date of birth. I'm trying to play it down and keep things at home as normal as possible because I don't want to frighten the children any more than necessary but it's putting us all under terrible stress.
"He is only a child, I can't think of a single reason why anyone would target him," she added.
Republicans across Belfast are said to be on high alert following the murder of former IRA commander Jock Davison.
Senior Ardoyne republican Eddie Copeland was a close friend of the murder victim and carried the coffin during last Saturday's funeral.
Meetings have been held across the city by republicans concerned that they might also be vulnerable to criminal revenge attacks in the wake of the murder.
Mr Davison was shot in the head and chest as he walked to work along Welsh Street on Tuesday, May 5.
Three people have been arrested so far and released without charge.
A close relative of a man murdered by the IRA during the 90s is the leading suspect in the murder.
