Post workers call off action in Derry

Postal workers in Derry have called off industrial action after assurances from loyalist paramilitaries they were not behind a threat to a Catholic postman.

A caller to the Samaritans on Sunday night named a Catholic postman and warned him not to enter the mainly loyalist Waterside area of the city.

The threat was not made in the name of any paramilitary organisation and did not carry any codeword. However the warning was passed on to the man by police.

Coming just three weeks after the loyalist murder in North Belfast of Catholic postman Daniel McColgan and threats to other Catholic postal workers, the latest threat prompted postal workers in the city to stop work in protest and there were no deliveries in the city today.

However they agreed to return to work after representatives of the Communication Workers Union were told at a meeting with Royal Mail management they had been assured the threat was not from loyalist paramilitaries.

Royal Mail said: "We do take the safety and security of our people very seriously and have special measures in place to deal with anonymous threats to individuals as received on this occasion.

"We have received confirmation from paramilitary sources that there is no threat to postal workers and our employees have accepted this."

However the postal workers decided not to carry out deliveries during the day but will resume collections immediately and deliveries tomorrow. Royal Mail said they were "disappointed" at the move.

"We have an obligation to provide a service to our customers and are dismayed that our employees in Derry have decided to prolong this action."