Lord Mayor of Belfast receives death threats amid violent disorder

By Press Association Reporter

The Lord Mayor of Belfast said she has received death threats amid violent disorder following the stabbing attack in the city.

Sinn Féin’s Róis-Máire Donnelly said she was visited by the police on Tuesday night and advised to take extra precautions around her personal security.

Ms Donnelly also urged the people of Belfast to reject violence following rioting on Tuesday night in which mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire, with people targeted based on their race.

In a statement, she said: “I want to make it clear that these threats will not deter me from fulfilling my role as mayor of this great city.

“I will continue to represent everyone. I want to express my full solidarity with the victim of the vicious attack in north Belfast on Monday evening, and also with the community heroes who intervened and saved the victim’s life. They deserve our enormous gratitude for their heroic actions.

“Belfast is home to many people who have come here from other countries and who have made this city their home, who have worked hard, who have looked after our friends and family in our hospitals in their time of need, who have opened businesses and created jobs, and who have become valued members of our community.

“We must stand with these people now in their time of need. Those people who took part in violent racist attacks and destruction last night should be ashamed.”

On Wednesday, Hadi Alodid, 30, was remanded in custody after appearing in court in Belfast charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye.

The unrest in Belfast has been widely condemned by politicians and authorities across the UK, while pleas have been made for calm on Wednesday night.

Ms Donnelly added: “Burning family homes, burning businesses, burning buses and cars, destroying all round them. Young children being evacuated from their home carrying their teddy bears.

“It is disgraceful and disgusting. It is racism, it is intimidation and it is absolute thuggery.

“I call on those involved in this violence to stop, and stop now. You do not represent Belfast.”

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill said the threat was “totally unacceptable”.

Stormont’s First Minister Ms O’Neill and Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey joined Ms Donnelly outside Belfast City Hall on Wednesday to speak to reporters about the development.

“This isn’t acceptable,” said Ms O’Neill.

“This is the mayor of Belfast, who represents all the people here, who’s only been installed 10 days ago, and who wants to be inclusive and welcoming and reach out to everybody.

“But yet, she’s in her first short week in office and she’s been visited by the PSNI to say her life is under threat. That is not acceptable, and if anybody thinks that makes their community safer, it beggars belief to me.

“So, it’s totally unacceptable. And obviously, we stand in solidarity with the mayor here today.”

The new Belfast Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly has said that police visited her home to tell her that threats had been made against her life PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN