‘Remove Loyalist threats against Catholics’ say Trimble and Durkan

Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister have called for the immediate removal of threats made by loyalist paramilitaries against teachers and postal workers.

In a joint statement Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan said: “Yesterday’s horrific murder of Daniel McColgan has disgusted all right thinking people. The recent threats made by loyalist paramilitaries against Catholic postal workers and teachers, especially against those working in north Belfast, should be withdrawn immediately.”

The Ministers also called for an immediate end to the recent spate of threats and physical attacks on others providing key services to the community: “These attacks must stop. Ambulance staff, firefighters, train and bus drivers all provide essential services to every community across Northern Ireland that are relied on by many people. They must be allowed to continue to do their work in safety and without fear of further attack.

“Workers should be able to earn a living free from any form of attack or intimidation. Schools should be a haven for children, a place where they can learn and understand more about the importance of tolerance and respect for others. Attacks on pupils travelling to and from school, which have been witnessed from both loyalist and republican communities, should also cease immediately.”

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has also expressed its condemnation of the murder of Mr McColgan and at the death threats issued against Catholics working in schools in North Belfast.

The Commission said the sectarian murder of Mr McColgan was “absolutely disgusting” and called on all those who exercise influence in Northern Ireland to condemn his murder and to work for the elimination of all sectarianism.

The Commission said: “When representatives of the Commission visited North Belfast at the end of last week they were hopeful that the rioting of recent days was about to cease and that life there would soon return to normal – or as normal as it can be in that area. Little did they know that things were about to get worse through the issuing of death threats. And the sectarian murder of Mr McColgan, whether connected to the dispute in North Belfast or not, is absolutely disgusting.” (AMcE)