DUP hits out after Maskey becomes latest high profile SF politician to be threatened
DUP has condemned a threat against Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey, after he said police informed him of an imminent attack against him.
It is understood the threat was issued by dissident republicans.
The Sinn Fein MLA said police visited him on Thursday and informed him of the threat.
Mr Maskey noted the threat was received after he announced earlier this week that he intended to be a Speaker to represent “every side of the Assembly Chamber” and to engage with “every section of our community”.
It comes after threats were issued against Sinn Fein vice-President Michelle O’Neill and Policing Board member Gerry Kelly after attending a PSNI recruitment event in February.
Last month Ms O’Neill announced that dissident repubTHE lican group the New IRA were planning a car bomb attack on a Sinn Fein member.
Threats were also issued against west Belfast community worker Harry Maguire, while a device was thrown at the home of Martin Finucane, uncle of Sinn Fein North Belfast MP John.
DUP Assembly Chief Whip Keith Buchanan said: “Terrorism was wrong in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
“It’s still wrong today in 2020. Any terrorist threat must be roundly condemned by every democrat.
“Those behind death threats such as this are trying to take
Northern Ireland backwards. The ballot box is the means to affect change, not the bomb or bullet.”
Mr Maskey said he would continue as normal despite the threat.
“This threat will not deter me from those events or continuing such efforts in the future,” the veteran republican said.
“As Speaker of the Assembly, I will be clear that intimidation of any elected representative in our democratic institutions is deplorable whether threats of this nature or vile abuse on social media. It can only be responded to by continuing to work to take our society forward.”