Threats made against MLA and health staff

The names of the two politicians recently appeared on a Republican website and MLA Jonathan Craig, who is a member of the Policing Board, has pressed the PSNI to investigate the website as a matter of urgency.

The same website also made threats against South Eastern Health and Social Care staff who work at Maghaberry Prison.

“These threats appeared on a well known republican dissident website and caused huge fear among health staff at Maghaberry and stress and anger amongst my party colleague and his family,” said Mr Craig.

“Initially the police refused to take these threats seriously as they appeared on the internet.

“This is an issue I have been pushing on the Policing Board as a cyber crime strategy is urgently needed.

“After raising the issue with senior command in the police I am glad to report that detectives are now investigating the incidents to see if any criminal charges can be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service.

“As well as this the police are looking to see if this website can be closed down as it clearly is being used to not only promote views that the vast majority of use have rejected but is being used to propagate hate.”

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he was “very concerned” about the safety of staff at the prison.

“It is disgraceful that some prisoners and the organisations to which they belong have decided to threaten the very people who come into the prison to provide welfare support,” said Mr Donaldson.

A spokesperson for the South Eastern Health Trust said: “We are appalled to see what could be perceived as an implicit threat to our healthcare staff.

“It is outrageous that those who provide care, support and treatment to patients should potentially feel threatened going about their caring duties, or indeed at home.”

A spokesperson for the PSNI said they would never ignore something that would put someone’s life in danger,

“Police do not comment on specific threats however if we believe there is a need for the security of any individual or individuals to be reviewed, we will take steps to advise them accordingly,” he said.

“We would never ignore anything that could put someone at risk.”