More nationalist politicians receive death threats

A party spokesman said the threats to its two Newry and Mourne councillors were similar to the one received by Mr O’Neill.

Earlier today, Mr O’Neill, a former Assembly member for South Down, branded those responsible for his death threat as fascists.

He said: “I am sure that those responsible for this stunt are doing it in reaction to my membership of the local District Policing Partnership.

“It is all too easy for faceless, fascist cowards to mount this type of cheap and sinister attack, but they should realise now, if they have not realised it before, that it is not easy to intimidate SDLP members out of delivering the new beginning on policing that Patten promised.

“I and others in the SDLP will not be deterred from achieving our goal of delivering accountable and representative policing for all our community.

“This is the real measure of political courage and provides much more for the community than sticking a bullet in an envelope and buying a stamp.”

Last month Mass cards and packages containing white powder were sent to the offices of SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Foyle Assembly member Pat Ramsey and the chairman of the District Policing Partnership in Londonderry, John Kerr.

Similar packages were also sent to the party’s headquarters on Belfast’s Ormeau Road and to a member of the Cookstown DPP in Co Tyrone.

The SDLP is the only nationalist party to have signed up to policing arrangements in Northern Ireland and urged its community to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Its members and nationalist members of district police boards have become the targets mainly of dissident republicans opposed to their move.

Mr Carr said those who had threatened him and his colleagues were acting in a “cowardly” fashion.

“My advice to the faceless individuals who sent these bullets is that we have moved on,” he said. “The days of violence are behind us and the only acceptable battle is the one for peace.”

Ms O’Hare said the threat to her and other SDLP councillors ran counter to democratic norms.

“This is supposed to be a democracy, we are supposed to have freedom of speech and freedom to live without intimidation,” she said.

“There are some who would have our society turned into a fascist state in which no politician or public representative could speak out about the progress and changes that need to be made in our society, be that policing, justice or any issue that affects our community.

“The posting of bullets to councillors will not bring anything positive to our society and will not deter the SDLP from making hard choices on the hard issues facing Newry and Mourne and the North.”

Sinn Féin has refused to take seats on the boards because it insists the British government has not delivered the new beginning to policing.

However South Down Assembly member Caitriona Ruane became the latest senior Sinn Féin figure to condemn the intimidation of SDLP and other nationalist members of the boards.

Ms Ruane said: “Whatever the motivation for sending SDLP councillor Eamon O’Neill a bullet in the post this morning it was wrong and should not have happened.

“This is not the first such incident like this in recent times. Indeed in the past few weeks bombs have been left outside the homes of both Sinn Féin and SDLP representatives in Derry.

“I would call on whichever individual or group behind this morning’s incident and indeed other similar recent incidents to stop this intimidation immediately.”

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell was also angry.

“Yet again we have seen another threat to a dedicated and committed public servant working to provide a safer community for all of his constituents,” the South Belfast MLA said.

“To those who sent the bullets in the post we have a very clear and simple message – the SDLP will continue to be at the forefront of policing change and will continue to view your pointless bullyboy tactics with the contempt they deserve.”