Threatened Larne port worker forced to move home
A WORKER at the Port of Larne and his family have been rehoused in a secure location following a threat to his life from loyalist terrorists.
The customs officer was targeted in February, around the same time menacing graffiti started to appear.
They were relocated in recent weeks amid rising unionist anger over the Irish Sea border.
The i news website reported it was the first time the relocation of a terrorist target had occurred since 2011.
London was made aware of the situation regarding the terror threat.
The worker reported it to the PSNI, which found it credible.
It is understood both Secretary of State Brandon Lewis and Home Secretary Priti Patel were informed of the situation in February before the UK Government unilaterally extended the Brexit grace period to October a week later.
The Cabinet Office told i the extension, which led to accusations from the European Union the UK was breaking the terms of the Brexit deal, was not influenced by a rise in loyalist terror threats here.
The scheme for the emergency purchase of evacuated dwellings (Sped) is run by the Housing Executive and is only used in exceptional circumstances where a threat to life is credible and imminent.
Once verified by police and security services, the Housing Executive will buy the home of the person under threat at full market value and help them buy a new one in an area considered safe.
East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson said it was “very alarming” the port worker moved home under Sped.
“That suggests the PSNI has verified the level of threat is significant enough that a port employee and their family had to be moved from their home,” he added.
“It is outrageous that anyone was forced to move from their home because of the threat of violence. I condemn outrightly any form of intimidation or threat being issued against anyone.”
Lord Hain, who was Secretary of State from 2005-07, said: “This confirmation is extremely worrying and highlights the neglect and disregard this Government sadly has for Northern Ireland.
“Boris Johnson and Lord David Frost claimed to have ‘got Brexit done’, but left so much ‘undone’ that Northern Ireland businesses have sudden huge costs and complexities, and loyalists have been destabilised.”
The PSNI said: “We do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this.
“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.”