BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
Police confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) that they are now treating a fire at the Sinn Fein offices in Lisnaskea in which the building was gutted, as 'suspicious'.
This revelation follows hard on the heels of an early morning incident at the same premises last Thursday when a brick, with an envelope atached and, inside three bullets, was thrown through a window in the building. No one was inside at the time.
Three prominent Sinn Fein figures, the Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew, Fermanagh Sinn Fein Councillor, Bernice Swift and Sean Lynch, who was a Sinn Fein candidate in last March Assembly elections were named, by their first names only, on the outside of the envelope. Two of the three, Ms Swift, who is project manager for Fírinne, a victims' group and Sean Lynch are based there and, Ms Gildernew holds her local clinic there.
Since the incident, all three have been visited by Police and advised about their personal safety.
A message inside, purportedly from an organisation calling themselves, 'the Red Hand Defenders', declared that from midnight that night (Thursday) it would be launching a new offensive on the pan Nationalist front.
The full text of the warning inside the envelope bearing the addressees, Michelle, Bernice and Sean reads as follows: 'From midnight tonight, the Red Hand Defenders will be launching a new offensive on the pan Nationalist front. All Sinn Fein/IRA representatives and supporters should consider this warning.
'We are organised and determined Loyalists who will continue to attack Republicans until you give up your united Ireland agenda. For many years, you have terrorised the Protestant people. We will now show you what real terror is. No surrender'.
The package was subsequently handed over to the police. A Sinn Fein spokeswoman said all three people named on the envelope had been visited by the PSNI and warned about their personal safety.
Councillor Swift said yesterday that she had been in touch with her solicitor and that she had received a PSNI message form stating: 'Police are aware of a potential threat to you from loyalist elements' together with a '32' page advisory booklet.
She went on: "They are now treating the office fire and bullet threat as linked. The initial forensic finding showed traces of petrol which explains that offices were 'torched' as opposed to being an accident".
"I want to hear now", she went on, "who is responsible for all these linked incidents. Has anyone been arrested? If not, why not? I am still in the dark as to the precise nature and substance of the threat, so when in the dark, light a candle!".
Ms Swift said she hoped that 'acts and events of the past and, unfortunately of the recent past' were not repeated, and she called on all public representatives to 'bite the bullet' and condemn these attacks.
"I remain committed/unafraid and uncompromised to speak out about truth/collusion, people really need to understand that you cannot fight against the future".
Councillor Swift was attending was a trans-national peace conference in Finland when she was informed of the threat against her.
"It causes concern", she said. " I condemn the attacks and want this to stop. It is very sinister. I would call on these people to desist. The PSNI must take swift action to bring the resources into action and thoroughly investigate this cash of ammunition used to threaten me as a republican representative and a support worker for victims of the conflict .
" I want to know is this ammunition from a security force weapon or paramilitary weapons, are they linked and been used in past Fermanagh attacks. Firinne want to know, the community must know. If this was happening to anyone else it would be much widely investigated?".
Concluding, she believed that those incidents were not representative of the entire thinking of the unionist community, therefore she did not include those people in her condemnation.
"I have appreciated all the kindness expressed from those within that community", she added. Meanwhile, Fermanagh Sinn Fein Councillor, Thomas O'Reilly has called on unionist and Loyalist politicians, community and church leaders to use their influence by speaking out against all sectarian threats and attacks.
Speaking of this recent incident, the former Assembly member stated: "This is obviously very worrying. Less than two weeks ago, the offices in Lisnaskea were badly damaged in a fire and, now there is this threat against three named individuals, and against the wider nationalist/republican community in this area.
"There is a clear responsibility on local politicians, community and church eladers to use their influence within the unionist/Loyalist community to come out against all sectarian threats or attacks.
"They must use their influence to have these threats lifted and to challenge sectarian attitudes within the community they represent'.
Fr Gabriel Dolan, who is a neighbour of Councillor Swift and who is home from the Missions in Kenya where he was active in human rights, said he was 'a little bit concerned' for her well-being.
"This latest incident should not be taken lightly. It is the third incident involving Bernice, so there seems to be a pattern to it, there was an incident at her home, then the fire at the offices in Lisnaskea where she works and now this brick incident.
"So, the Police should not take it lightly. Since Sinn Fein have signed up, the whole issue is now inclusive and that must include protecting someone who is vulnerable. The Police have a duty to protect Bernice and ensure she is safe and, if anything should happen to her, the Police should be held accountable".
Fr Dolan suggested that the PSNI must have some knowledge of the likely suspect(s), yet they had still to arrest anyone in connection with any of the three incidents.
A PSNI spokeswoman stated that at about 1.30 on Thursday morning last, Police received a report that a brick had been thrown through the window of the Sinn Fein office at Main Street, Lisnaskea. Subsequently, officers examined the contents of the envelope attached to the brick.
The Police are now appealing to anyone who saw suspicious activity to contact them at - 0845 6008000.
