Republican News · Thursday 6 March 2003

More threats against Catholic workers

A Catholic postman from North Belfast is the latest Royal Mail worker to receive a death threat from unionist paramilitaries. A live round of ammunition was sent to him in the post at the Mallusk sorting office, where he works.

This latest death threat follows series of threats against mail workers, including one issued last month against a postman and two managers at the main Tomb Street office.

In the latest incident, a North Belfast postman received a death threat just hours after a Protestant co-worker was suspended for making sectarian comments.

The man received a letter signed by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the UDA, containing a threat to his life and the bullet.

The man said he was considering leaving his job at the Mallusk office as he no longer felt safe and is constantly watching over his shoulder.

"If the Post office continues to allow this behaviour to continue there will not be a happy ending as three different men have been threatened over the past few weeks," he said.

Meanwhile, an Ardoyne man who was threatened along with two managers at Belfast's Tomb Street sorting office is still on special leave after he complained that he endured vicious taunts from a workmate about postman Danny McColgan, who was killed by the UDA last year.

The man responsible was later suspended and Protestant and Catholic post workers in the office at Tomb Street say they will strike if he is reinstated.