Foster slams UDA threats against local politicians and reporters
FIRST Minister Arlene Foster has condemned threats by loyalist paramilitaries against journalists and politicians, saying such threats have no place in democracy.
Threats were issues by the south east Antrim UDA against Sunday Life and Sunday World journalists, as well as politicians from all the main parties except the DUP.
Posting on Twitter on Monday night, DUP leader Mrs Foster said: “Threats against journalists or politicians have no place in our democracy.
“Previous generations put their lives on the line to protect free speech. We must continue to defend that freedom today.”
Speaking in the Assembly yesterday, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill also condemned the threats.
“Those threats have no place in our society and should be condemned by each and every one of us,” she said.
UUP leader Steve Aiken was one of the politicians who was menaced.
He told MLAS yesterday that the threats “undermine democracy”.
“Attacks on anybody, not just MLAS but journalists as well, fundamentally undermines the principles of our democracy in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the world,” he said.
Sinn Fein’s Linda Dillon is the latest politician to have been targeted, her party said.
Police also contacted UUP Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie, SDLP MLA Patsy Mcglone and Alliance MP Stephen Farry on Monday warning of a “credible threat” from loyalists.
Christopher Stalford, the DUP Deputy Speaker, also condemned the threats.