Three Catholic postal workers in Belfast have received death threats from loyalist paramilitaries, it has emerged.
The threats, alleged to be from the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for the Ulster Defence Association, were issued in the last week. It is understood they were directed at two managers and one postman based at a sorting office in the city.
SDLP Assembly member Mr Alban Maginness condemned the threats and demanded they be withdrawn immediately. The north Belfast MLA said the Communication Workers Union was considering taking strike action in the wake of the threats.
"I would demand that the threat on him be withdrawn immediately particularly when we still have the memory of Daniel McColgan, who was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries because he was a Catholic, fresh in our minds".
Catholic postman Mr McColgan was last January gunned down as he arrived for work before dawn at a sorting office in the loyalist Rathcoole estate on the outskirts of north Belfast.
The UDA's South-East Antrim Brigade was believed to be behind the murder.
PA