JUSTICE minister Naomi Long has said threats against members of the legal profession are “unacceptable” after a prominent solicitor was told he is being targeted.
The Alliance leader spoke out after the PSNI visited Michael Brentnall at his home last week and told him the property and his business premises were under “imminent” threat of attack.
The Law Society last night also said any threats against members of the legal profession should be condemned.
The police warning is the third Mr Brentnall has received in the last eight months.
In September last year he was told of a possible attack on his car.
In March this year the solicitor was warned that he was under threat of physical attack.
A member of his staff has also been told by police that he is under threat of physical attack.
His firm, south Belfast-based Brentnall Legal, is known for its human rights work and regularly handles Troubles-related cases.
The solicitor believes the threats are linked to a highly sensitive case he is working on.
Mr Brentnall said it has been passed to him with “scant detail and extremely vague terms”.
Mr Long said people working in the legal system "provide an invaluable service to the community and no-one should be intimidated in an attempt to prevent them going about their work”.
“Such threats are completely unacceptable.
“They also place additional pressures on the police at a time when they are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Mrs Long said police are obliged to pass on threats.
“The police have a legal obligation to notify any person subject to a threat, however vague, that it has been received,” she said.
“Whilst I know that can cause anxiety when such notifications have limited detail or background, it is nevertheless necessary that people are made aware of any such risk.”
The Law Society said: “The threat of violence made against any member of the legal profession should be condemned outright.
“It is vital that members of the legal profession can feel safe representing their clients and carrying out their professional duties.”
In September last year Mr Brentnall accused the PSNI of trying to intimidate and harass him as it emerged that the Police Ombudsman has previously upheld three complaints made by him.
He has also issued High Court action against the police as a result of their conduct.
