Death threat to Gerry Kelly, Alliance councillor flees home after City Hall flag vote

SINN FÉIN Policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly has received a death threat after Monday night's Belfast City Council vote 29-21 to fly the Union flag on 17 designated days instead of every day.

Sinn Féin wanted a neutral flag, both the Union flag and Irish Tricolour alongside each other, or no flags at all but supported an Alliance Party compromise motion on designated days.

Gerry Kelly appeared in a number of TV news bulletins to question the PSNI operation and challenge unionist politicians who stoked the angry protests on their slowness to condemn the attacks that left City Hall staff and police officers injured.

Immediately after the council vote, unionists attacked St Matthew’s Catholic Church and homes in the Short Strand area.

On Tuesday, dozens of unionists picketed Alliance Party HQ and covered it with Union flags and red, white and blue balloons.

Alliance confirmed that one of its councillors, Laura McNamee, fled her home after threats following the council vote.