UDA Denies Threatening Journalist

The Ulster Defence Association has denied issuing a death threat to a Belfast-based journalist.

The National Union of Journalists announced and condemned the death threat, but did not name the journalist.

The UDA said it respected "the freedom of the press and the right of all journalists to carry out and pursue their profession free from intimidation or threat".

The NUJ's Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley said he welcomed the statement but the threat was "not imaginary".

Before the UDA's statement, he said: "This represents the latest threat to this journalist and is part of a sinister campaign which must be condemned. A free press is the cornerstone of a democratic society and peace cannot be said to exist when journalists are faced with death threats."

Graffiti, including the journalist's name and mobile telephone number, has appeared on walls in some areas and Mr Dooley said the threat, issued by telephone, was not the first received by this journalist.

This morning, human rights group Amnesty International joined in condemning the threat.

Its Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said: "Guaranteeing freedom of expression must be a cornerstone of Northern Ireland as a peaceful and just society."

Nearly 11 years ago (September 2001) Martin O'Hagan, a Sunday World journalist, was shot dead by a separate loyalist paramilitary group, the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

(NE)