Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Threats to journalists and politicians ‘despicable’
PARAMILITARY death threats against journalists and politicians are “beyond despicable” and have no place in a democratic society, the Government has been told.
Tory Lord Caine, who served as a special adviser to six secretaries of state, said: “Does the minister agree that everyone in Northern Ireland should be able to go about their daily business without threat or the fear of threat and that we now urgently need a renewed and serious effort to put all paramilitary groups out of business for good?”
Lord Younger said: “Ending paramilitarism and the harm caused by paramilitarism is a priority in the new programme for government.”
Labour former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain said: “These threats to journalists and politicians are outrageous.”
Former First Minister Lord Trimble said representatives of the republican movement needed to be reminded they were only admitted into the talks process when they committed to “democratic and peaceful means”.
The Conservative peer added: “That commitment is somewhat frayed after senior members of the republican movement have tried to justify the terrorist campaign.”
Lord Younger said each of the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive, including Sinn Fein, had made a clear commitment to tackle paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
He added: “There is absolutely no place in any society – certainly not Northern Ireland – for threats or violence.”