NI: Health workers walk out over death threat

Intense efforts tonight failed to stop nearly 1,000 Belfast health workers staging a one-day strike after a death threat was issued to a member of staff.

Union chiefs have insisted their members stop work tomorrow in disgust at the letter claiming to be from loyalist paramilitaries.

A bullet is also understood to have been enclosed in the package which police have been investigating since it was delivered last Wednesday.

Dismayed bosses at the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust tonight hit out at the decision to press ahead with the 24-hour stoppage.

Director of Operations Noel Rooney voiced total sympathy for the victim, but insisted that the protest should have taken another form.

He warned: “There will be serious disruptions to some of our services because of the full day action.

“We had very positive, fruitful discussions right up to lunchtime today but they proved in vain.”

The Loyalist Commission, an umbrella organisation which includes representatives from the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force, assured the trust neither of these paramilitary organisations were behind the threat.

With confusion still surrounding the origin of the letter, management insisted they have assured the person targeted all possible safety measures will be taken.

Efforts to have the strike averted were spurred on by the mass anti-sectarianism rally already planned for Belfast city centre on Friday.

But workers affiliated to the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance intent on a show of solidarity refused to budge.

The trust, which delivers health and social services to more than 160,000 people in the city, plans to keep all facilities open.

Mr Rooney insisted: “The only group to suffer as a result of such action will be our clients who have already experienced unprecedented disruption as a result of civil unrest.”