A Protestant community worker who helped to organise Wednesday's visit by President Mary McAleese to a loyalist area of Derry has been threatened by loyalists paramilitaries. Police confirmed yesterday they had advised Mr Brian Dougherty, co-ordinator of the Tullyally District and Development Group, about his safety.
Mr Dougherty, who is also a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, has been told by police his home in the loyalist Bond Street in Derry's Waterside could be attacked by petrol bombers.
Graffiti and posters describing Mr Dougherty as a traitor and a Lundy were erected on walls near his home prior to Mrs McAleese's visit. The president was aware of the threats when she visited the group's centre.
"She spoke privately to Brian during her visit," said Ms Catherine Cooke, the group's vice-chairperson. "Mrs McAleese said she was aware that it was a difficult time for Brian.
"We're all devastated at this terrible development which has cast a shadow over what was a great day for the area. Irrespective of personalities, a visit by any prominent figure can only do the area good.
"The decision to invite the Irish President to the area was not Brian's alone. It was taken by all 16 board members and by our eight advisers, but Brian has been singled out.
"We are devastated. It was a good and progressive day for Tullyally, an area which Brian has helped to lift from the bottom of the social pile, and given hope to the many unemployed people there," said Ms Cooke.
Local DUP Assemblyman for the area Mr William Hay, who is a close friend of Mr Dougherty, described the threats as a tragedy. "I just can't believe it, nor can any of the Protestant people of this city. Here is someone who has worked very hard against the odds over many years in and for his community and now we have people within that community issuing these type of threats.
"From my information the threats have come from loyalist paramilitaries. I know the police and Brian are taking them very seriously. The posters and graffiti put up on walls near Brian's home were a despicable action. As someone who represents this community, I can honestly say there is widespread outrage about this.
"Brian has brought the community of Tullyally off its knees. He and his board have recently completed a £3 million development which will be creating jobs for hundreds of unemployed people and this is how some of his community thank him," said Mr Hay.
Meanwhile a PSNI spokesman confirmed police have spoken to Mr Dougherty. "We cannot and do not comment on the security of individuals. However, if a threat has been issued against any person, we inform that person and advise them to take appropriate security precautions," he said.
... A Catholic businessman was stabbed and beaten in a sectarian attack in Derry late on Thursday night.
The incident happened as the businessman sat in his parked car close to the loyalist village of Newbuildings in the Waterside area. Two masked men, one armed with a knife and the other with a baseball bat, pulled their victim from his car before assaulting him.
"The businessman had earlier distributed business leaflets in Newbuildings and his attackers told him that fenians were not welcome in the village," a police spokesman said.