4 December 1997 Edition
Death squad fears
Fears of loyalist death squad activity in North Belfast increased last week when an Ardoyne woman received a sympathy card in the post, addressed to her son who was killed by the UDA five years ago.
Although addressed to the dead son it was his brother who was named in the card. The man, who asked not to be identified in our story in order to protect his family, said he was taking the threat seriously. He now wants protection for his home given that his family has been targeted on three separate occasions. In one incident a loyalist put a gun to his mother's head.
This latest incident began on Monday 25 November after the RUC arrested the man and took him to Antrim Road barracks. He was thrown into the rear of an armoured personnel carrier, handcuffed and badly beaten. The man, who has a heart complaint, was examined by a doctor who sent him to the nearby Mater hospital. However, fearing for his safety after he saw RUC personnel at the casualty unit, he signed himself out on Tuesday.
Sinn Fein Vice president Maire Drumm was shot dead, by loyalists, in the Mater in 1976.
The next morning the card arrived at his mother's house. She moved only recently yet loyalists were able to pinpoint the new address.
``The fact that a sympathy card was sent to his mother's home after the RUC hospitalised this man is of great concern. It is hardly coincidence that the threat arrived within two days of the man's arrest by the RUC,'' said Ardoyne Sinn Féin councillor Mick Conlon.
Although addressed to the dead son it was his brother who was named in the card. The man, who asked not to be identified in our story in order to protect his family, said he was taking the threat seriously. He now wants protection for his home given that his family has been targeted on three separate occasions. In one incident a loyalist put a gun to his mother's head.
This latest incident began on Monday 25 November after the RUC arrested the man and took him to Antrim Road barracks. He was thrown into the rear of an armoured personnel carrier, handcuffed and badly beaten. The man, who has a heart complaint, was examined by a doctor who sent him to the nearby Mater hospital. However, fearing for his safety after he saw RUC personnel at the casualty unit, he signed himself out on Tuesday.
Sinn Fein Vice president Maire Drumm was shot dead, by loyalists, in the Mater in 1976.
The next morning the card arrived at his mother's house. She moved only recently yet loyalists were able to pinpoint the new address.
``The fact that a sympathy card was sent to his mother's home after the RUC hospitalised this man is of great concern. It is hardly coincidence that the threat arrived within two days of the man's arrest by the RUC,'' said Ardoyne Sinn Féin councillor Mick Conlon.