Northern Ireland

Loyalist paramilitaries threaten string of politicians who condemned journalist threats

SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone
SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone

Loyalist paramilitaries have threatened a string of politicians who condemned UDA threats against journalists.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken and Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie were warned of threats against them from loyalists.

Alliance MP Stephen Farry also said he had been threatened.

Mr McGlone, the deputy assembly speaker, said he was informed by senior PSNI officers last night that loyalist paramilitaries had issued a threat against him.

The threat comes after fresh threats to journalists from the UDA.

READ MORE: UDA threat to journalists must be removed 'immediately and unequivocally'Opens in new window ]

Members of the South East Antrim faction are understood to be behind planned attacks on journalists working for the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers, both of which are owned by Independent News & Media.

Reporters were told on Friday by the PSNI of imminent attacks by the South East Antrim UDA, including details of a planned booby-trap device to be fitted under a journalist's car.

An Irish News journalist was warned last month that dissident republicans planned to target them in their home.

Mr McGlone said that neither he, nor journalists who have received threats this week, will be silenced.

"Late last night, I received a call from senior PSNI Officers with details about a loyalist threat against me," he said.

"This is not the first time I’ve been threatened by paramilitaries but I can assure those responsible, I will not be silenced, censored or intimidated by faceless thugs.

"In the week of VE commemorations, it is ironic and deeply sinister that they have chosen to mimic fascist attacks on journalists and elected representatives. 

"This threat, and the threats made against journalists in the last week, are an attack on the democratic tradition on this island. It must be resisted and those responsible must understand that they will never win."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood SDLP leader Colum Eastwood

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the threats must be lifted immediately.

"Those responsible for this threat obviously don’t know Patsy McGlone," he said.

"He will not be broken or silenced by those intent on intimidating him and others. 

"These thugs need to understand that every threat against an elected representative or a journalist or anyone else is an attack on our peace and an attack on the democratic will of the people of this island. It is a fight they will never win."

Steve Aiken said it was "ironic" to be threatened by loyalists, given that he had served in the British Royal Navy for 30 years.

"20 years on from the Belfast Agreement there is no such thing as a paramilitary group left in Northern Ireland, there are only organised crime gangs who exist to make money for their mafia bosses, generally by selling drugs," he said.

"The Secretary of State and the Chief Constable need to make it very clear – by words and deeds – that this type of threat will not be tolerated in any part of the United Kingdom, and that the people responsible will be on the receiving end of swift and decisive action.

"These threats are not normal and they should not be treated as if they are.

"Threats against politicians and journalists by crime gangs are nothing less than fascism – it wouldn’t be tolerated in Glasgow, Manchester or London, and it shouldn’t be tolerated here."

Doug Beattie MLA, a former British soldier, said those who threatened him were criminals.

"I have been threatened many times while serving my country in uniform and I treated those threats with contempt, as I do with this present threat," he said. 

"What does concern me is that criminal gangs should feel confident enough to threaten journalists and politicians, and this is a testament to just how little they fear the criminal justice system in this country."

He said paramilitary gangs need to be shut down.

"Local communities, plagued by these gangs who attempt to drain them of their dignity and hard earned money, need the police to round up these bullies and put them away for as long as possible," he said. 

"There should be no more talk of strategies and inducements; quite simply, these criminal gangs need to be closed down once and for all with sentences that act as a real deterrent."

Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said: "Any attempt to silence politicians is an affront to democracy". 

"In condemning the threats to journalists the elected representatives were speaking on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

"This group has no mandate. We call on them to withdraw all threats immediately and to accept the will of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland, who want to live in peace and harmony and without fear or intimidation. 

"At this difficult time their actions serve only to bring additional stress to many workers and their families."