Republican News · Thursday 12 September 2002

Loyalist death threat to Sinn Féin MP

Sinn Féin Fermanagh\South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has been told by the RUC/PSNI that her life is under threat from an unspecified loyalist group. Gildernew told An Phoblacht that she is angry but not surprised that the RUC/PSNI have failed to provide her with the full details of the threat.

"They will not tell me where the threat originated or exactly the precise nature of the threat," she told An Phoblacht. "As a mother of a young child I am angry that I am unable to take the appropriate security steps to ensure the safety of my family and myself until I can discover the nature of the threat."

Gildernew contacted her solicitor, who in turn has been in contact with the RUC/PSNI to ascertain the nature and source of this threat, but has had no success to date.

Gildernew added that the RUC/PSNI had taken the highly unusual step of asking her not to go public with the threat on her life.

She told An Phoblacht: "I don't believe the reason for remaining quiet is for my own safety and that to remain silent will not diminish the threat. The role of the RUC/PSNI Special Branch in all of this is extremely dubious.

This is not the first time a loyalist threat has been made on Gildernew's life.

"Loyalists have been targeting nationalists and Sinn Féin members especially throughout the past two years. The crisis within loyalism and unionism is destabilising the Peace Process and it's time for pro-Agreement unionists and loyalists to make a stand," said Gildernew.

She concluded by saying the death threat will not deflect from her resolution to see political progress and said she will continue to fight for the rights of her constituents.