The employers of the chairman of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, Mr Francie Mackey, are refusing to comment on reports that some of the staff at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital in Omagh are objecting to his return to work.
Mr Mackey, a psychiatric nurse, returned to his position at the hospital a fortnight ago. Immediately afterwards there were media reports that some of his co-workers wanted him transferred.
A spokeswoman for Mr Mackey's employers, the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, yesterday refused to comment on the claims. "I can only confirm that he is employed by the trust within the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital site," she said.
The Irish News and the News Letter reportedly received telephone calls from some of Mr Mackey's colleagues to say they were angry that he had returned to work.
The callers, who said they wished to remain anonymous, said they were concerned he would come into contact with patients receiving treatment after the Omagh bombing.
One caller, who said he had been a "nursing practitioner" at the hospital for over 20 years, was quoted in the Irish News as saying that Mr Mackey's return had caused "great disquiet" among staff.
"They are expressing horror. One of our colleagues suffered in the bomb and was very lucky to survive. It is very, very difficult for us," he said.
Another caller was quoted in the News Letter as saying:
"How can we possibly have a member of the 32-County Sovereignty working in the same ward as a person who has come to the hospital to be treated for the traumatic aftermath of the bombing?"
Mr Mackey declined to comment to The Irish Times on the reports. However, he had previously said they were "totally unsubstantiated" and accused the media of operating a witch-hunt against him and his family.
A spokesman for the Sovereignty Movement said: "Francie Mackey is an innocent man and he has every right to work. A concerted campaign of vilification is being waged by the media and others against members of the Sovereignty Movement.
"In comparison to this disgraceful treatment, the decision to allow two British soldiers, convicted of the murder of Peter McBride, to remain in the British army has escaped virtually unnoticed."
Mr Mackey, who is a member of Omagh District Council, has rejected calls to resign his seat. He was expelled from Sinn Fein earlier this year over his membership of the Sovereignty Movement.
A fortnight ago, the council passed a resolution urging him to resign.
The original motion claimed the council would lose credibility if Mr Mackey remained a councillor. However, a Sinn Fein amendment urged Mr Mackey to resign because he was no longer a party member.
Only Sinn Fein voted for the motion, while the DUP, the Ulster Unionists, Alliance and others abstained. The resolution was passed by five votes to 12 abstentions.
Relatives of some of those killed in the Omagh bomb held a silent vigil as the motion was discussed. Mr Laurence Rush, whose wife was killed in the bomb, has pledged to "hound" Mr Mackey out of office.