Councillors urged to support death threat chief

Members of a borough council in the North will today be urged to stand up to people who issued a death threat to their chief executive and his family.

Craigavon Borough Council chief executive Francis Rock last week had a live bullet sent to his office in the post and a message threatening him and his family unless he dropped staff reorganisation plans.

The incident sparked outrage among some Craigavon councillors who petitioned the Ulster Unionist mayor Kenneth Twyble for an emergency meeting to debate the threat.

Police have also been called in to investigate the incident.

As councillors prepared for today’s debate, SDLP Group leader Dolores Kelly said they would have an opportunity to stand behind Mr Rock and his family in a show of solidarity.

However she was also critical of the Northern Ireland Office minister in charge of local government David Cairns for not coming out to condemn those behind the threat.

“I would hope all the parties today can agree to giving the chief executive their full and unequivocal support at this difficult time,” the Upper Bann Assembly member said.

“We also want the police to put all available resources into an investigation into how a live bullet managed to end up in a letter sent to Mr Rock.

“This was an attack on democracy and the right of the civil servant to go about his business. We need the council to take a stand.

“But I am also disturbed that we have still not heard a murmur from the minister on this matter.

“If a chief executive in a council in England, Scotland or Wales received a death threat like Mr Rock, ministers would be falling over themselves to condemn in publicly.”

Mr Rock was returning from holiday in South Africa exactly a week ago when he was informed by a colleague of the warning message and bullet sent to him.

The message told him not to go to the police and it made specific reference to the safety of his wife Grainne and his two daughters.

The family have had to step up personal security, including alerting their daughters’ schools.

Sources close to family said that while Mr Rock was initially rattled by the threat, he determined to continue his work including the reforms which annoyed those behind the threat.

It is understood Mr Rock will today meet police to discuss their investigation.