Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said today he has been warned by the PSNI that a death threat has been issued against him by loyalist paramilitaries.
The threat, issued by the Orange Volunteers - believed to comprise former UVF militants, came on the same day it emerged the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) had finally decommissioned its guns and explosives.
The north Belfast MLA and junior minister said he had been informed yesterday that the threat had been made. He said the threat stated that "‘Sinn Féin Chief Gerry Kelly is going to be shot within 48 hours - Orange Volunteers - No Surrender".
Mr Kelly said it was the second threat made against him in recent weeks. He said he was taking it seriously but insisted that "no threat will detract me from working on behalf of those who elect me and in working to advance the peace and political process in Ireland.”
A PSNI spokeswoman said: “We do not discuss the security of individuals. However, if we receive information that a person’s life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk.”
It emerged this afternoon that a Sinn Féin office in Coalisland received a call this morning warning that a bomb had been left at the home of MLA Francie Molloy.
“My office in Coalisland received a bomb warning phoned in this morning by somebody with an English accent stating that a bomb had been left at my family home and would explode in an hour’s time.
"While I will be conscious of any threat directed towards me or my family, let me make it clear to those behind such threats, I will not be deflected
from carrying out my work as a republican elected representative.
“I have been given the support of my constituents to carry out work on their behalf and I will continue to do so,” Mr Molloy said in a statement.
