Durkan describes policing threat as 'despicable'

SDLP leader, Mark Durkan has condemned those who sent bullets to the deputy chairman of the NI Policing Board and a member of the DPP in Londonderry, describing it as "despicable".

Denis Bradley, the deputy chairman of Northern Ireland's Policing Board, and Marian Quinn, an independent member of Derry District Policing Partnership, both received RIP messages in the post alongside live bullets at their homes in the city.

Mr Durkan hit out at the threats, he said: "Using their old ways of threat and violence, they are enemies of the new beginning in policing. They will not succeed in dragging us backwards. Those of us who are determined to haul this community forward in terms of politics, policing and other community services will prevail."

Chair of Derry District Policing Partnership, Cllr John Kerr also condemned the threat against Mrs Quinn, describing it as "a mindless act aimed at intimidating a member of the local community who has played an active role in the city".

"The members of the District Policing Partnership make a valuable contribution to bringing change to our society and I totally condemn this deplorable threat against Marian and her family," he said.

The threat against Mrs Quinn was the second against her family in recent times. Last month, a hoax device was placed under her daughter's car.

(MB)