Murder victim’s brother threatened by make-shift IRA/RAAD grouping

SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has expressed concern that two local men have been cautioned by the PSNI that their lives are under threat and has called for those who issued the threat to lift it immediately. One of the men is the brother of murder victim Andrew Allen.

Andrew Allen, aged 24, was shot dead in Lisfannon on February 9. He was one of several men forced to leave Londonderry in 2011 when threatened by dissident republicans.

Although his murder was subsequently claimed by RAAD on February 22, the original threats against Andrew Allen were from a different organisation.

Responding to the fresh death threats from a make-shift conglomeration of IRA splinter groups and RAAD, Mr Ramsey said: “I have been aware of tensions involving two local men over recent weeks involving paramilitaries, and today I have been told that both these men’s lives are under threat. The Allen family in particular have been under enormous stress and are still traumatised over the death of Andrew.

“I have sought to facilitate through my office and with local stakeholders the prevalence of cool heads in this matter, but some have been determined to push the issue to a point where lives are being put at risk.

“The police have visited the two men concerned today to warn them of the threat, which has obviously caused great fear and anguish to their families.”

He said he would continue to seek to engage in dialogue with local stakeholders to ensure that the threats are lifted.

“I call on the group who issued this threat to lift it immediately, they have no authority in this community to impose sentences on any of my constituents, nor anyone else.

“The actions of this group, despite intervention made by me and the Rosemount Resource Centre, is simply unacceptable and the disruption to these men’s lives and their families’ lives is unforgivable,” said Mr Ramsey.