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22/05/2019
Loyalist Threat Against New Belfast Mayor
The new Lord Mayor of Belfast has told of how the police warned him that loyalists were planning to attack him at his home.
Sinn Fein's John Finucane was elected Mayor on Tuesday evening, 21 May, and has revealed that the police came to his house and informed him of the threat later on that night.
The 39-year-old father of four is the same age now as his own father, the murdered Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane, was when he was shot dead by loyalists during the Troubles.
Mayor Finucane, a newly-elected Councillor for Castle, said he will not be intimidated by the warning as he embarks on his year in office. He said in a statement today: "Last night the PSNI came to my home to tell me of a threat by loyalists to attack me in my family home.
"I am committed to serving and representing all the people of this city and I will not be deterred from that by threats from anyone.
"This is not just a threat against me but it is also a threat against democracy."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: "This reprehensible threat against John Finucane has to be condemned.
"The reference to his family home was clearly deliberate, given this is where his father was murdered by loyalists.
"It is a cowardly attempt to intimidate the newly-elected first citizen of Belfast. And while this must be a very traumatic experience for John and his family, I know that he will not be deterred from representing everyone as Ard Mhéara."
(JG/CM)
Sinn Fein's John Finucane was elected Mayor on Tuesday evening, 21 May, and has revealed that the police came to his house and informed him of the threat later on that night.
The 39-year-old father of four is the same age now as his own father, the murdered Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane, was when he was shot dead by loyalists during the Troubles.
Mayor Finucane, a newly-elected Councillor for Castle, said he will not be intimidated by the warning as he embarks on his year in office. He said in a statement today: "Last night the PSNI came to my home to tell me of a threat by loyalists to attack me in my family home.
"I am committed to serving and representing all the people of this city and I will not be deterred from that by threats from anyone.
"This is not just a threat against me but it is also a threat against democracy."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: "This reprehensible threat against John Finucane has to be condemned.
"The reference to his family home was clearly deliberate, given this is where his father was murdered by loyalists.
"It is a cowardly attempt to intimidate the newly-elected first citizen of Belfast. And while this must be a very traumatic experience for John and his family, I know that he will not be deterred from representing everyone as Ard Mhéara."
(JG/CM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
