Exiled man returns to Province

A man who was forced to leave Northern Ireland by the IRA has reportedly returned home.

Joseph McCloskey, 30, fled Londonderry in April 2001 after receiving death threats from the IRA following an incident in which he and his uncle, Danny McBrearty, fired shots at a gang armed with guns who where trying to break into his house.

Mr McCloskey, a pub doorman in Derry, had previously removed a customer, who had "republican contacts" from the bar where he worked.

The move comes just a few weeks after Mr McCloskey met Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams outside Downing Street after handing in a protest letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The letter to Mr Blair protested about what Mr McCloskey said was a continuing death threat against his uncle.

Police blamed the IRA for shooting Mr McBrearty in both legs and beating him with a hammer while he was at the wheel of his bus in Londonderry last month.

While Sinn Féin has always denied that Mr McCloskey was under threat from the IRA, the party's Mid-Ulster MP, Martin McGuinness said he would be happy to meet Mr McCloskey if this was requested.

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