Firm which supplies coal to ESB 'horrified' by death threats against activist who condemned mine's operations

The controversial Colombian mining company that routes billions of euro worth of business through Ireland has said it is "horrified" by death threats against a human rights activist who was in this country last month speaking out against the mine.

Cerrejon, which operates one of the world's biggest open cast mines in northern Colombia, routes €2.3bn worth of business through its Dublin-based distributors and has supplied millions of tonnes of coal to the ESB, said it was calling on the authorities in Colombia to investigate the threats with urgency and take the necessary protective measures to safeguard those targetted.