05/08/2004

DPP member receives bullets in post

The latest in a long line of threats against DPP members continued today after the chairman of a district policing partnership in Co Down had bullets sent to him in the post.

Eamonn O'Neill found the ammunition in a sympathy card sent to his constituency office in Downpatrick on Thursday.

The SDLP councillor said those responsible were "faceless, fascist cowards" who would not deter either him or his colleagues in the SDLP "from achieving our goal of delivering accountable and representative policing for all our community".

Police confirmed they were investigating a report of intimidation in the Downpatrick area.

Last month, several packages containing white powder were sent to members of the SDLP and the headquarters of the Policing Board.

SDLP assembly member, Pat Ramsey, was targeted when an envelope containing Mass cards and powder arrived at his home in Londonderry. Party leader Mark Durkan also received a similar package to his home in the city.

In Belfast, packages were also sent to the headquarters of the Policing Board on the Ormeau Road and to a party member and a DPP delegate in Cookstown.

(MB)

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