'Daily Ireland' publisher 'on loyalist hit list'

The publisher of a daily newspaper based in Belfast is seeking a meeting with Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern after being warned…

The publisher of a daily newspaper based in Belfast is seeking a meeting with Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern after being warned that loyalist paramilitaries have put him on a hit list again.

Mairtin O Muilleoir, who earlier this year unveiled the Daily Irelandnewspaper, revealed he was visited by the PSNI and told that information relating to his newspaper group had been found during raids on loyalist addresses.

He said: "This is the sixth time in recent years that I've been warned that I am on a loyalist hit list.

"However, I do not know what loyalist organisation is behind the latest threat nor do I know whether this information specially came from a document stolen from Castlereagh security complex."

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In recent weeks, hundred of republicans, including Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, have been informed that their personal details were in the hands of loyalists.

The security scare was sparked by the discovery of documents in loyalist homes relating to the missing Castlereagh document.

Mr O'Muilleoir, a former Sinn Féin councillor in Belfast, said: "All I do know is that this latest threat relates to a search of houses three weeks ago and that it could be related to Castlereagh.

"Last year, a bullet was sent to the Anderstown News Group and as I have said there have been six threats in that time.

"However, no-one has been made amenable to the courts and there has been no assistance given by the Northern Ireland Office with personal or business security measures.

"Maybe Dermot Ahern could be of assistance in helping us to secure assistance from the British Government for security measures."

"I will be asking the Irish Government to make the British do more to defend freedom of speech and the right to publish from paramilitary threat."

The Daily Irelandpublisher also said he was interested to hear what Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell, a fierce critic of the newspaper, had to say about the latest loyalist threat to the Anderstown News Group.

PA