SF condemns loyalist threat against Catholic priest

Sinn Féin has condemned loyalist death threats against a priest in north Belfast.

Fr Dan Whyte received the threats due to his involvement in the Catholic blessing of the graves ceremony at a mixed-religion cemetery in the mainly Protestant Carnmoney area.

He has also spoken out against loyalist violence and sectarian graffiti in the area.

Sinn Féin has called for anyone with influence over loyalist paramilitaries to use it to remove the death threat.

A group of Protestant clergymen in the Newtownabbey area have also condemned the threats against Fr Whyte.

The group was made up of the Rev John Dickinson of Carnmoney Presbyterian church, the Rev Ian Ballentine of St Brigid’s Church of Ireland church and the Rev Jim Wray, the Methodist president.

Mr Wray said Dr Whyte was a popular figure in the area and had been the first person onto the scene when Protestant churches had been vandalised.

Mr Wray said it was an all-time low to issue threats against a brave and generous priest.