Death threats have been issued to Sinn Féin members linked to the controversial appointment of an IRA killer to the role of ministerial adviser at Stormont, the party has announced.
The newly appointed adviser Mary McArdle, the minister herself Carál Ní Chuilín, north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly and staff at the party’s offices in the north of the city have all been threatened by a group calling themselves the Orange Volunteers.
Mr Kelly said a caller said bombs had been left outside his and Ms Carál Ní Chuilín’s homes, but that police have not found anything suspicious.
“We’ve just received threats to our office in north Belfast which said there were bombs outside both Carál Ní Chuilín’s home and my own, that there was a threat against the life of Mary McArdle and that they were going to kill people working in our office when they get the chance,” he said.
A police spokesman said: “We are taking these threats seriously and inquiries are ongoing.”
Ms McArdle’s appointment has whipped up a political furore, with the sister of her victim expressing disgust at the move.
Ms McArdle, 46, was jailed over the murder of primary school teacher Mary Travers and the attempted murder of her judge father Tom Travers in Belfast in April 1984 and subsequently released as part of the Belfast agreement of 1998.
Ann Travers said she was sickened by the party’s decision.
But Sinn Féin has defended hiring her as Ms Carál Ní Chuilín’s adviser, insisting that “ex-combatants” in the Troubles have a role to play in the peace process.
Today’s threats come from splinter loyalist terror group the Orange Volunteers.
Mr Kelly added: “This organisation has appeared on a number of occasions, particularly in north Belfast, over the years.
“The last connection I know it was attached to was the LVF (Loyalist Volunteer Force), but who knows.”
Mr Kelly criticised rival politicians who had made outspoken comments about the McArdle issue and the coverage by certain media outlets and said they could not divorce themselves from what had now happened.
Standing beside Ms Carál Ní Chuilín in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Mr Kelly said the party was taking the threats seriously.
“Remember that elected representatives from Sinn Féin, quite a number of them have been killed over the years so that’s the way we have to approach this,” he said.
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín said her adviser would be staying put and insisted the threats had not knocked Ms McArdle’s determination to perform her new role.
“I have every confidence in Mary McArdle and Sinn Féin will not allow ourselves to be intimidated either by direct threats or by people creating conditions in which these types of threats are made,” she added.
“In the recent elections we received an increased mandate to continue with our work representing citizens and delivering change. That will remain our focus.”
PA