IRA denies Rathenraw allegations

The Provisional IRA has denied allegations that it issued death threats against members of a County Antrim community association.

Earlier this week Rathenraw Community Association chairman Paddy Murray claimed that his life had been threatened by the IRA.

Mr Murray, who is a former republican prisoner, claimed that a masked man had visited his home and issued a death threat against him.

Mr Murray claimed that two female youth workers s were told their “days are numbered”.

The community association included most of the members of a Sinn Féin cumann which recently resigned from the party en masse.

In a statement, the community association called for Sinn Féin representatives to use their influence to bring the “intimidation” to an end.

“What the residents of Rathenraw and the Rathenraw Community Association want is an end to the threats and intimidation that have been visited upon them,” it said.

“They want the right to democracy and to voice their displeasure with their political representatives without fear of repercussions or losing their homes.”

A Sinn Féin spokesman rejected the claims, insisting: “Sinn Féin are not in the business of making threats to anybody”.

Meanwhile, veteran republican John Kelly, who recently left the party amid claims it was a “control dictatorship”, has added his support to the community association.

“I find it disturbing that a group of people who choose to differ from Sinn Féin and resigned from Sinn Féin should be harassed and intimidated in this way,” he said.

“If we are looking at parity of esteem and if you’re looking for the rights of the individual to express their concerns you are facing a stark contradiction.”

Urgent Appeal