Politics

Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey warned of 'imminent attack' threat against him

Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey
Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey

Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey has said a threat has been received of an 'imminent attack' against him.

The Sinn Féin MLA said police visited him yesterday to inform him of the threat.

Mr Maskey said: “I note that this threat was received in the week when I announced my intention to use the role of Speaker to represent every side of the Assembly chamber and to engage with every section of our community. This threat will not deter me from those events or continuing such efforts in the future.

“As Speaker of the Assembly, I will be clear that intimidation of any elected representative in our democratic institutions is deplorable whether threats of this nature or vile abuse on social media.  It can only be responded to by continuing to work to take our society forward.”

Last month police informed Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill that dissident republicans were planning an attack against her and Gerry Kelly.

Ms O'Neill said the threat had been issued after they attended a PSNI recruitment event.

Speaking today, Ms O'Neill described the threat against Mr Maskey as "an attack on the whole democratic process".

“He has been a trail blazing public representative and political activist for almost 40 years and has played a leading role in the peace process," she said.

“In his role as Speaker, Alex Maskey acts as a representative of all the parties and MLAs in the Assembly and all sections of the community."

Sinn Féin's leader in the north called on those responsible for the threats to "disband immediately”.