Murder victim's father in death threats claims

New death threats have been issued against the father of a loyalist paramilitary murder victim, it was claimed tonight.

Raymond McCord suspects the Ulster Volunteer Force will use a vicious feud with rival terrorists to try to kill him.

Mr McCord has been an outspoken critic of the paramilitary organisation, which he blames for murdering his 22-year-old son, Raymond Jr, in November 1997.

The former RAF operator was battered to death and his body dumped in a north Belfast quarry.

Allegations that Special Branch blocked an investigation into the murder because it implicated security force informers are being investigated by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan.

As he urged Secretary of State Peter Hain to lock up the UVF’s commander and declare its ceasefire over, Mr McCord said: “Police came out to see me on Saturday to tell me they were in receipt of information about a threat to my physical safety. That was the second time in a week.”

Mrs O’Loan’s report is expected to be published before Christmas, while the British Irish Rights Watch, which studies controversial cases in the North, has sent a dossier on the case to the United Nations and US Congress.

Amid the growing pressure, the UVF has been locked in a bloody turf war with the splinter Loyalist

Volunteer Force, shooting dead four men so far.

“The UVF are concentrating on targeting me while this feud is going on,” Mr McCord claimed.

He added that loyalists on motorcycles passed a relative’s house in Belfast four times within hours last week checking to see whether he was there.

“The (British) government put (former terrorist leader) Johnny Adair back in jail for directing terrorism,” Mr McCord stressed.

“Why can’t they do this with the UVF chief of staff? People are asking who’s next? If you speak to someone in the LVF or live in the same street does that make you a target?

“I have had friends threatened for socialising with me, trying to isolate me. But they will not walk away.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland refused to disclose any information on the death threat allegations.

A spokesman said: “We do not comment on the security of individuals. However, where we believe anyone’s life is at risk we take steps to inform them.”