Postal deliveries disrupted following threat against worker

Postal deliveries were disrupted in Londonderry following a threat made against a Catholic postman who works in the Waterside area of the city.

The warning was given during a phone call to the Samaritans on Sunday. Royal Mail staff in Derry stopped working on Monday morning in protest, but returned to work in the afternoon following safety assurances from the company and trade union officials.

After the meeting Royal Mail said: "We have received confirmation from paramilitary sources that there is no threat to postal workers and our employees have accepted this."

Despite this assurance, some postal workers have voiced concerns about delivering in the Waterside area.

A spokesperson for the postal company said they were "dismayed" about the unofficial industrial action. In a statement Royal Mail said: "We are very disappointed that they have decided not to complete deliveries today [Monday].

"We have an obligation to provide a service to our customers and are dismayed that our employees in Derry have decided to prolong this situation."

Royal Mail added that there would be no deliveries on Monday but afternoon collections would take place as normal. A fully operational service is expected to resume on Tuesday.

The fresh threat comes just three weeks after postal workers walked out in protest at the UDA murder of the Catholic postman Daniel McColgan near Belfast.

Postal deliveries were suspended for two days following Mr McColgan's murder and rallies were held across the province in protest at the threats, which were also made against Catholic teachers in north Belfast. (AMcE)