UVF'S THREAT TO MURDER HUNTER
UVFs threat to murder Hunter
By JULIE O'CONNOR
MP Andrew Hunter, who backed away from naming paramilitaries in the House of Commons, received a chilling death threat just days before his change of heart, it emerged last night.
The threatening phone call was made by a senior Ulster Volunteer Force member in Lisburn, who warned the top Tory he would be "executed" if he named any UVF members under the veil of parliamentary privilege. Mr Hunter declined to talk about the threat yesterday, saying: "I do not wish to pursue this matter at all."
The Conservative backbencher, with a keen interest in Northern Ireland affairs, had threatened in recent weeks to reveal the names of the Omagh
bombers and six other terrorists.
The terrorists he was planning to name were believed to be three loyalists and three republicans, who were involved in paramilitary beatings.
The six were identified by victims or witnesses but Secretary of State Mo Mowlam publicly appealed for them not to be named for fear it could prejudice trials.
It was reported at the time that Mr Hunter backed down from the threat to "name and shame" after being advised not to by the Government and by RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
However, Mr Hunter did not rule out naming people in the future. "I am getting further legal advice, I am not doing it today but am not ruling it out in the future," he said.
When contacted by the News Letter yesterday, Mr Hunter appeared to be taken aback that news of the incident had leaked.
PUP Assembly member Billy Hutchinson, an Assembly member said Mr Hunter was not significant enough to warrant a UVF threat.
He said: "Lisburn is not an area known for UVF activity. But while I can't say no individual from the UVF threatened Andrew Hunter, I can stand over the fact that the UVF leadership would not have threatened Andrew Hunter because they don't think he is of any significance."
By JULIE O'CONNOR
MP Andrew Hunter, who backed away from naming paramilitaries in the House of Commons, received a chilling death threat just days before his change of heart, it emerged last night.
The threatening phone call was made by a senior Ulster Volunteer Force member in Lisburn, who warned the top Tory he would be "executed" if he named any UVF members under the veil of parliamentary privilege. Mr Hunter declined to talk about the threat yesterday, saying: "I do not wish to pursue this matter at all."
The Conservative backbencher, with a keen interest in Northern Ireland affairs, had threatened in recent weeks to reveal the names of the Omagh
bombers and six other terrorists.
The terrorists he was planning to name were believed to be three loyalists and three republicans, who were involved in paramilitary beatings.
The six were identified by victims or witnesses but Secretary of State Mo Mowlam publicly appealed for them not to be named for fear it could prejudice trials.
It was reported at the time that Mr Hunter backed down from the threat to "name and shame" after being advised not to by the Government and by RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
However, Mr Hunter did not rule out naming people in the future. "I am getting further legal advice, I am not doing it today but am not ruling it out in the future," he said.
When contacted by the News Letter yesterday, Mr Hunter appeared to be taken aback that news of the incident had leaked.
PUP Assembly member Billy Hutchinson, an Assembly member said Mr Hunter was not significant enough to warrant a UVF threat.
He said: "Lisburn is not an area known for UVF activity. But while I can't say no individual from the UVF threatened Andrew Hunter, I can stand over the fact that the UVF leadership would not have threatened Andrew Hunter because they don't think he is of any significance."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/194
Published Date: 05-Feb-99
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