Threats to politicians who supported journalists – "an affront to democracy"
Politicians who condemned threats to NUJ members last week are now also threatened by South East Antrim UDA.
The NUJ in the UK and Ireland has strongly condemned threats from the South East Antrim UDA to Northern Ireland politicians as an affront to democracy.
Four public representatives who condemned last week's threat to NUJ members at the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers in Belfast have had the threats verified by the PSNI.
The Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Patsy McGlone, SDLP; Steve Aiken, Ulster Unionists, and Doug Beattie and Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party face threats for criticising the actions of the dissident group.
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said:
"Any attempt to silence politicians is an affront to democracy. In condemning the threats to journalists the elected representatives were speaking on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland. This group has no mandate.
We call on them to withdraw all threats immediately and to accept the will of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland, who want to live in peace and harmony and without fear or intimidation. At this difficult time, their actions serve only to bring additional stress to many workers and their families."