Dissident republicans drape banner over SDLP man's home

A group of dissident republicans draped a banner over the home of SDLP Assemblyman Eugene McMenamin last night as part of a campaign to get a Real IRA man released from prison.

Mr McMenamin, a member of the local District Policing Partnership, said he returned from a meal last night to find the banner draped over his house in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

He said security cameras at his home captured 25 men putting the banner in place.

Mr McMenamin said the protestors should have mounted a demonstration at his constituency office in Strabane rather than targeting his private home. He accused them of trying to intimidate his family.

Mr McMenamin has previously been targeted in a campaign of intimidation by dissident republicans against nationalist politicians who support the PSNI by sitting on local policing partnerships.