Threat lifted by dissident republicans

Time2Choose, an early intervention and mediation project said last night it had been asked to release a statement on behalf of Gary Smith and his family.

This followed a period of mediation with dissident republicans on behalf of Mr Smith by Time2Choose, which is based at Rosemount Resource Centre.

Some months ago Mr Smith and Daniel Allen, brother of Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) murder victim, Andy Allen, left the city in fear for their lives after they were told of a threat from a paramilitary group.

“I simply wish to resume a normal life and to take care of my family,” said Mr Smith in the statement issued last night.

The threats came as a graffiti war of words escalated in the Top of the Hill area between people purporting to support the campaign for Justice for Andy Allen and supporters of dissident republican groupings.

In the statement issued last night, Mr Smith said tensions following Andy Allen’s murder were abused and he repeated calls from the Allen family for anyone using “genuine hurt and anger” at the killing for their own ends, to desist from doing so.

The family has stressed that the campaign must be dignified and that any other course of action is not acceptable and Mr Smith voiced similar comments in his statement.