A “sinister threat” has been made to Newry, Mourne and Down councillors amid a council approval for City of Sanctuary status.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands a recorded audio message has been sent out to a number of elected members of Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP identifying them as “legitimate targets”.
The act of intimidation has been confirmed by the PSNI.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Sinister and anti-democratic threats were received by a number of our councillors in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area.
“There is no place for the intimidation of anyone in our society, including elected representatives.
“The matter is now in the hands of the police.”
Council sources told the LDRS that online targeting of councillors as “traitors” has escalated since the recent approval of a refugee motion by elected members.
Several hundred people attended a Newry protest ahead of the vote opposing the local authority’s move towards becoming a City of Sanctuary.
There were also counter protests in the city. However, NMDDC approved joining the network by a majority vote of 12 for and two against at its active and healthy communities committee on September 15.
The approval will see the local authority join a network of communities and organisations to become places of safety and inclusion for refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants.
SDLP council group leader Pete Byrne said: “A number of SDLP representatives have received threatening messages in recent months as part of a coordinated campaign of intimidation.
“I am also aware of representatives in other parties being targeted and want to extend thoughts to them.
“Political disagreements are part and parcel of public life, but what we’ve seen recently goes far beyond that.
“It is simply unacceptable that representatives working to serve their communities have been subjected to this kind of abuse.
“The SDLP will not be intimidated, but we are deeply concerned by the poisonous discourse that has taken hold.
“This is the work of a small, vocal minority who do not speak for the people of this area.
“Nobody should have to put up with this and it must be called out and condemned.”
It comes after Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long (Alliance) was targeted by a masked group of about 40 people who organised a protest outside her Belfast home (Oct 8) earlier this month.
It is believed the protest was related to the housing of sex offenders in residential areas.
In a social media post, Mrs Long said: “It’s bullying and intimidation. It’s threatening and wholly unacceptable.”
The threatening online commentary towards Alliance at the Newry chamber has been now been linked to elements who seek to “cause division and stoke fear in our communities”.
An Alliance Party spokesperson has said: “There is absolutely no excuse for violence or intimidation of any kind in our politics, and what we heard in this message was chilling.
“Those issuing such sinister threats should take a long, hard look at themselves. That they chose to do so anonymously speaks volumes about who they are and what they purport to represent.
“Only a week on from the disgraceful scenes that took place outside Minister Long’s home, it’s clear the intimidation of elected representatives is something that everyone must commit to tackling robustly, and without equivocation.
“That includes rejecting harmful rhetoric and the spreading of misinformation and disinformation that seeks only to cause division and stoke fear in our communities.”
The intimidation of NMDDC councillors had been condemned by other political parties with the PSNI stating the abuse of democratically elected people was “appalling”.
A spokesperson for the DUP said: “Threats or intimidation have absolutely no place in politics. While none of our councillors have received any such threats, the Democratic Unionist Party condemns the issuing of any threat or act of intimidation against elected representatives. Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable and must be rejected by all.”
The sole UUP member in the chamber, Councillor David Taylor said: “I am not aware of any such alleged messages and have not received any myself. I categorically condemn any threats or intimidation against elected representatives.
“We are not going back to the dark days, this is a democracy, and if people feel strongly about an issue, they should express that at the ballot box, not through threats.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns regarding recent threatening online commentary and messages directed towards a number of our local elected representatives.
“We have extended invitations to meet representatives from all political parties and independents, and have offered the services of our crime prevention officer, in addition to other relevant safety advice. Further meetings with affected individuals are planned.”
District Commander Superintendent Norman Haslett added: “It is appalling that anyone should face abuse or threats for carrying out the duties of the office to which they have been democratically elected.
“We in the police service will continue to do all we can to ensure that our local representatives feel supported and safe in our communities, and that they can undertake their role free from intimidation and fear.”
