New community policing bodies in Northern Ireland will forge ahead with their work despite members receiving death threats from dissident republicans, it was claimed today.
Professor Desmond Rea, the chairman of the cross-community Policing Board, attacked those responsible for issuing a threat against the life of Fermanagh District Policing Partnership member Mr Cathal O'Dolan.
The Catholic civil servant and part-time farmer from Belcoo stepped down after a threat from the "Real IRA".
A statement from Mr O'Dolan, which was read by chairman Mr Tom Elliot before a meeting of the body last night, said he had no alternative but to resign.
Mr Elliot, an Ulster Unionist councillor, said: "It's absolutely deplorable that Cathal O'Dolan has had to resign in this way and it's deplorable that people still want to live in the past and rule by fear and intimidation and threats.
"We have to ask what have these type of people to offer our society. Do they want to rule this province like Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden?"
Mr Elliot said the threat purporting to be from the "Real IRA" was telephoned to a local newspaper office earlier this week.
"Mr O'Dolan has a lot to offer society and he was a great contributor to the local DPP," Mr Elliot said.
"He was there from its formation and he played a key role in it and it's unfortunate that this has happened, but he still has a lot to offer society."
District Policing Partnerships were established in council areas across the North in a bid to foster better relations between police and the local communities.
Professor Desmond Rea expressed sympathy to Mr O'Dolan and his family.
"Mr O'Dolan's position is very understandable and regrettable in the circumstances but he lives in a border area and our feelings must go out to him and to his family this morning," he said.
Prof Rea said the bodies would continue with their work across the province despite a number of other threats being issued by dissident republicans.