The mother of UVF murder victim Ian Ogle has said her family will not be intimidated.
Margaret Elliot (64) was speaking after threatening graffiti was scrawled on walls in east Belfast.
Her family is preparing to mark the first anniversary of Mr Ogle's murder
after he was stabbed and beaten at Cluan Place in east Belfast on January 27 last year.
Members of Mr Ogle’s family, including his daughter Toni, have been named in graffiti attacks for speaking to the press about the case.
Ms Elliot was critical of those behind the menacing messages.
“I am upset, because if they have anything to say, come straight to us,” she said.
“Don’t write bad things on the wall, they are just graffiti cowards.
"If they think they are going to lower us to their level, they won’t.”
The grieving mother said her son was respected.
“I love my family, I would never change my family," she said.
" thank Vera (Ian’s partner) for giving my son love and two beautiful children, Toni and Ryan.
“As our Ryan would say “unbowed and unbroken”, they can write what they want but they can’t change the love we have for that boy and they will never take the respect that everybody had for him,” she told the Belfast telegraph.
Three men have been charged with Mr Ogle's murder.
