SINN FÉIN has defended the appointment of a convicted killer as a Stormont political adviser and criticised the media over the matter.
Stormont Minister for Culture Carál Ní Chuilín said yesterday that she and senior colleagues had received fresh death threats and she blamed some reporting of the controversy over her appointment of Mary McArdle for the heightened threat.
The party said the focus of some media reports had “created the conditions in which attacks on Sinn Féin could take place”.
Ms McArdle was convicted in connection with the murder of Mary Travers and the attempted murder of her father, magistrate Tom Travers, as they left Mass in 1984. She was freed under the terms of the prisoner release scheme following the Belfast Agreement.
“Today a telephoned threat from the Orange Volunteers was received in the North Belfast Sinn Féin office,” Ms Ní Chuilín said.
“The caller claimed to have left bombs at our office and family homes and threatened to carry out shootings against Gerry Kelly, my adviser Mary McArdle and myself.
“Over time there have been a number of threats from loyalists and indeed devices have previously been left at our north Belfast Office.”
The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating fresh death threats against Sinn Féin members.
Citing attacks on Sinn Féin over the years in which party members were murdered, the Minister added: “When this campaign was at its height, there was a parallel campaign in sections of the media and from unionist politicians vilifying and demonising Sinn Féin and our elected representatives. It was a central element of creating the conditions in which attacks on Sinn Féin could take place.”
There have been echoes of a similar campaign in certain unnamed media circles in recent days, she said, regarding Sinn Féin generally and Ms McArdle in particular. “Those driving this campaign cannot divorce themselves from the threats which have been issued,” she said.
She singled out SDLP Assembly member Alban Maginness and Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister for particular criticism for “this attempted vilification of Sinn Féin”.
“I have every confidence in Mary McArdle and Sinn Féin will not allow ourselves to be intimidated either by direct threats or by people creating conditions in which these types of threats are made. In the recent elections we received an increased mandate to continue with our work representing citizens and delivering change. That will remain our focus.”
The appointment of Ms McArdle was strongly criticised by Ann Travers, a sister of the murder victim, who said she felt shocked and physically sick when she learned of it. Speaking from the Republic where she now lives, Ms Travers said Ms McArdle was now in a state job, funded by the taxpayer “of which my mum is one”, she said.
“I think it’s really wrong and I think she should stand down.”
She said she could not accept an offer from Mr Kelly to discuss the appointment while Ms McArdle remains in her post.
DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson has said the appointment was “insensitive and a mistake” and Sinn Féin should reconsider it to take account of the hurt caused to the Travers family.
DUP Assembly member Gregory Campbell said: “I would have thought that given the reaction there has been, that Sinn Féin would have said we have made a decision on reflection that we will revisit the decision and appoint another person.” However, he said he did not expect the decision to be reversed by Sinn Féin.
SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness said: “I cannot understand how Sinn Féin did not foresee this, or perhaps they did foresee it, but thought ‘we can do what we like’.”