Sinn Féin said today a death threat made against a former Belfast councillor called into question the ceasefire of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) loyalist group.
South Belfast MLA, Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Sean Hayes was visited by members of the PSNI at his home in the Markets area last night and told a call using a recognised codeword had been received by the BBC in Belfast.
South Belfast MLA, Mr Alex Maskey, said police informed Mr Hayes that his name "along with that of three other republicans in Belfast, Dungannon and Warrenpoint were issued with death threats in a phone call to the BBC.
"The PSNI informed Sean that the threat was from the Red Hand Defenders and was accompanied by a recognised code word. He was informed that he would be killed within 48 hours," Mr Maskey said.
"The Red Hand Defenders has of course in the past been a flag of convenience used by the UDA."
"It is deeply concerning that this UDA cover name has once again resurfaced only a week after the British Secretary of State proclaimed that the UDA was on cessation once again," he added.
Earlier this month, the UDA pledged to end all violence and work towards complete disarmament. The announcement was made by Mr Tommy Kirkham of the Ulster Political Research group, the political representative of the UDA.
Mr Kirkham, speaking to more than 2,000 UDA members in the loyalist Rathcoole estate on the northern outskirts of Belfast, said: "From today we are prepared to move into a process. Our commitment to that process will be to work towards a day when there is no longer a need for an UDA and a UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters)."
Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy said he was taking a gamble but he had decided to despecify the UDA's ceasefire because he was persuaded the organisation was serious about seeking a new beginning.