A THREAT to a Sinn Féin councillor in Glenavy is being linked to intimidation of a number of people, including several leading republicans, by a criminal gang who have been extorting local businesses.
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney condemned the threat against councillor Gary McCleave, after a bullet was posted through his letter box on Wednesday evening.
Mr McCleave was elected in May last year, the first member of the party to be elected to Lisburn and Castlereagh council.
The councillor, his wife and three young children were at home when the bullet was posted through the door of his Glenavy home.
Mr McCleave said it was a "reckless attack on my family".
"My message to the criminals who carried out this attack is clear, I will not be deterred and I will continue to represent the people who elected me".
Mr Kearney said it was "a cowardly effort to intimidate locally elected Killultagh representative Gary McCleave, his wife, and young children who were in the house at the time.
“Sinn Féin and Councillor McCleave will not be deterred. Gary will continue to carry out his duties on behalf of the people who elected him without fear or favour.
"The cowards responsible for this act of intimidation have no politics. They are clearly in conflict with their own community.
"This is the latest in a series of despicable threats and attacks against Sinn Féin activists and elected representatives at a time when the debate on Irish unity is centre stage.
"There is absolutely no justification for these actions, those responsible should get off the backs of ordinary people.
"I am saying very clearly that anyone with information on these threats and attacks, including now that against Gary McCleave, to immediately contact the PSNI," Mr Kearney added.
Last month party activist Harry Maguire was warned by the PSNI that two pipe bombs had been left at the homes of his 85-year-old mother and his partner in west Belfast.
MLA Alex Maskey, party deputy leader Michelle O'Neill and MLA Gerry Kelly have also received death threats in the last number of weeks.
