A close friend of IRA murder victim Robert McCartney is under new threat from the Provisionals, he claimed tonight
Jeff Commander, 34, said police warned him twice in the last week he may face action for testifying against two men accused of a vicious attack on him.
The father-of-five was left with serious head injuries after being beaten with iron bars and sewer rods near his home in Belfast's staunchly nationalist Short Strand district.
"I'm taking this very seriously," he said tonight "Another attack on me now seems inevitable sometime down the line if I don't withdraw the charges."
Mr Commander was the best friend of Mr McCartney, who was knifed to death outside a Belfast bar in January.
The murder victim's sisters and fiancee, Bridgeen Hagans, have mounted a campaign for justice that has captured global attention.
They were outraged by the latest alleged intimidation against Mr Commander.
Catherine McCartney said: "This is a far more specific and direct threat than what we ourselves have come under. This seems to be coming from the IRA itself."
Mr Commander was attacked by up to eight men in front of his wife Sinead last month.
At one stage a knife was allegedly produced by the gang.
The two men charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, a metal bar, were remanded in custody last week.
A day later it is understood police called at Mr Commander's home.
He claims they warned him on Friday some Short Strand residents were
"disgusted" police investigating the attack had made arrests and insisted he should not have made a complaint.
"It's not known what action, if any, local residents intent to take against Commander," the threat message allegedly said.
Officers returned on Monday to issue a second warning, Mr Commander said. This time the caution was even more specific.