Irish Republican News · June 14, 2004

UVF issue threats in Ballymena

A number of Catholics in a County Antrim town have been warned they are under threat from unionist paramilitaries.

It is understood police have visited a number of people in Ballymena telling them about the warning.

The threats follow pipe bomb attacks on Sinn Féin members by elements of the paramilitary ‘Ulster Volunteer Force’.

It is understood up to seven people have been contacted by police over the past few days.

Sinn Féin assembly member for North Antrim Philip McGuigan said the UVF were behind the threats.

He said: “I live in the area, as do the people receiving these threats, so we know exactly what’s happening on the ground and it seems most likely that this is the work of the UVF locally.”

Two Sinn Féin members have been targeted with bombs placed under their vehicles in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, breakaway Republican militarists have been blamed for an explosion at a golf clubhouse in County Armagh.

Lurgan golf club was damaged by what the PSNI police described as an improvised explosive device early on Monday morning.

No-one was injured in the explosion and so far no group has admitted responsibility for the attack.

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