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Sinn Fein 'get loyalist threats' over Mary McArdle | Sinn Fein 'get loyalist threats' over Mary McArdle |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sinn Fein has said Gerry Kelly, Caral Ni Chuilin and her newly appointed special adviser, Mary McArdle, have received death threats from loyalists. | Sinn Fein has said Gerry Kelly, Caral Ni Chuilin and her newly appointed special adviser, Mary McArdle, have received death threats from loyalists. |
Mr Kelly said they took the threats from the "Orange Volunteers" very seriously - but said Ms McArdle would not be withdrawing from her post. | Mr Kelly said they took the threats from the "Orange Volunteers" very seriously - but said Ms McArdle would not be withdrawing from her post. |
McArdle was part of an IRA gang that shot and injured magistrate Tom Travers and killed his daughter Mary in 1984. | McArdle was part of an IRA gang that shot and injured magistrate Tom Travers and killed his daughter Mary in 1984. |
Mary Travers' sister Ann condemned her appointment as a special adviser. | Mary Travers' sister Ann condemned her appointment as a special adviser. |
Mr Kelly said his party would be willing to meet the Travers family - but attacked sections of the media for their focus on the story. | Mr Kelly said his party would be willing to meet the Travers family - but attacked sections of the media for their focus on the story. |
He said thousands of republicans had gone through jail. | He said thousands of republicans had gone through jail. |
"Are you going to say that none of them deserve a job?" he said. | "Are you going to say that none of them deserve a job?" he said. |
"Let me be critical of the media - and I don't like being critical of the media - as far as I heard from Ms Travers she didn't even know about this until it was raised with her by the media." | "Let me be critical of the media - and I don't like being critical of the media - as far as I heard from Ms Travers she didn't even know about this until it was raised with her by the media." |
On Thursday, Ms Travers said: "I would happily meet Gerry Kelly, but I'll happily meet him after Mary McArdle stands down. | |
"I know what would happen if I went in to meet Gerry Kelly, he would start to bully me and he would be telling me all about the Good Friday Agreement." | |
She added: "I am happy for Mary McArdle to have any other job within Sinn Fein, one that's not paid for by the taxpayer. | |
"She is an unelected convicted murderer going into a highly paid job up at Stormont and I think that is just morally wrong." | |
Commenting on the loyalist threats to Sinn Fein, the police said: "The PSNI does not not comment on named individuals. | |
"Police are investigating a series of threats made to senior members of Sinn Fein. Police are taking these threats seriously and enquiries are ongoing." | "Police are investigating a series of threats made to senior members of Sinn Fein. Police are taking these threats seriously and enquiries are ongoing." |
Rethink | Rethink |
Earlier on Thursday, DUP East Londonderry MP, Gregory Campbell said Sinn Fein should have rethought the appointment in light of the pain it had caused the Travers family. | Earlier on Thursday, DUP East Londonderry MP, Gregory Campbell said Sinn Fein should have rethought the appointment in light of the pain it had caused the Travers family. |
"I would have thought that given the reaction there has been, that Sinn Fein would have said we have made a decision on reflection that we will revisit the decision and appoint another person," he said. | "I would have thought that given the reaction there has been, that Sinn Fein would have said we have made a decision on reflection that we will revisit the decision and appoint another person," he said. |
"I strongly suspect they won't, let us be absolutely unequivocal here." | "I strongly suspect they won't, let us be absolutely unequivocal here." |
The SDLP's Alban Maginnis said Sinn Fein had shown no concern for the Travers family whatsoever. | The SDLP's Alban Maginnis said Sinn Fein had shown no concern for the Travers family whatsoever. |
He said the issue of Mary Travers' murder had been raised during the Irish general election earlier this year. | He said the issue of Mary Travers' murder had been raised during the Irish general election earlier this year. |
"You'd need to be deaf and blind not to realise that this would re-emerge as a very sensitive public issue," he said. | "You'd need to be deaf and blind not to realise that this would re-emerge as a very sensitive public issue," he said. |
"I cannot understand how Sinn Fein did not foresee this, or perhaps they did foresee it, but thought 'we can do what we like'." | "I cannot understand how Sinn Fein did not foresee this, or perhaps they did foresee it, but thought 'we can do what we like'." |
First Minister Peter Robinson described the appointment as "insensitive and a mistake". | First Minister Peter Robinson described the appointment as "insensitive and a mistake". |
Writing on Twitter the DUP leader said Sinn Fein should recognise the "hurt" felt by Ms Travers' family. | Writing on Twitter the DUP leader said Sinn Fein should recognise the "hurt" felt by Ms Travers' family. |
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