Durkan condemns 'dissident threat'

FOYLE MP, Mark Durkan, has condemned the sending of a letter to a Londonderry business by dissident republicans warning them no to serve members of the PSNI.

The business received the letter from the 32 County Sovereignty Committee (32CSM). The 32CSM is linked to the Real IRA and had recently advised buisnesses and schools in Derry against co-operating with the PSNI.

Mark Durkan said: "This is a shocking development which will appal the people of this city.

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"The staff and owners of this business and others should be assured that the entire city stands by them.

"Everyone has the right to carry out their lawful business in Derry and people who want to shop here and work here must be allowed to do so without let or hindrance.

"The 32 County Sovereignty Movement claim to be interested in freedom but show little respect for the freedom of workers to earn a living and people to shop where they choose.

"These sinister moves should be immediately repealed.

"At a time when many businesses are struggling in the economy and when workers in Arntz are facing redundancy the outrageousness of the threats will resonate all the more in Derry and throughout Ireland."

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News also emerged this morning that a leading member of the Sinn Fin press team in Derry has been advised by the PSNI that dissident republicans were plotting to kill him.

Dale Moore said: "I have been a republican activist all my life and lived with threat of attack from loyalists and British security forces over all of that time. I have no intention of letting a rag-tag group of pseudo-republicans deflect me from continuing with my political activism.

"Obviously you have to take every threat seriously but I will not allow it to interfere with my every day living," he said.

He also challenged those responsible for the threat to explain their actions. "I challenge the so called Real IRA and the 32CSM to explain how they intend to free Ireland by threatening the lives of republican activists. It's about time they recognise that they are despoiling the proud name of republicanism by their continued existence never mind their activities," he said.

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