Sinn Fein member receives death threat

Sinn Fein member Gerry Kelly has today received a death threat from dissident republicans.

Police informed Mr Kelly of the threat which is understood to have been made earlier this week.

The message read: "Dissident republicans are planning to carry out some form of unspecified attack against Gerry Kelly from Sinn Fein in the near future.

"You are advised to seek advice on and take steps to protect your personal security."

In recent weeks, senior Sinn Fein members including Gerry Kelly received similar threats in the run up to the November 24 deadline for devolution, when Sinn Fein were due to nominate the party's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister – with DUP leader Ian Paisley as first minister.

However under the terms of the St Andrew's Agreement, Martin McGuinness would have to openly pledge his and Sinn Fein's allegiance to the PSNI – therefore changing the party's policy on policing in the process.

The possibility of this is believed to have caused an uproar among hard-line republicans.

Commenting on the threat, Mr Kelly said that he and his family had to take the threat seriously.

He said: "They have joined a long queue of unionist paramilitaries who want to do Sinn Fein and members of it damage.

"It is not going to distract me but it is worrying for my family. We will get on with the business.”

Mr Kelly added: "You cannot have a situation where we have a new beginning to policing sitting on the shelf or indeed without any influence upon it at the moment.

"That is the DUP`s position at the moment and I hope that they are thinking more positively about what way to shift this forward."

(EF)