Bomb alert at west Belfast home of Gerry Adams

The PSNI has said “nothing untoward” was found following a bomb alert at the west Belfast home of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.

Mr Adams complained on Wednesday that this was the latest in a series of such incidents in recent weeks which he said were linked to the Westminster elections.

“In the last week there have been four serious attacks and seven death threats and bomb alerts at family homes,” said Mr Adams.

Sinn Féin mainly blames dissident republicans for the intimidation and attacks on homes and property of party politicians, although a group calling itself the New Ulster Freedom Fighters was accused of issuing a death threat against the Sinn Féin candidate in East Derry, Caoimhe Archibald.

Paint-bombing

A number of the incidents were in Derry, with the home of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness paint-bombed on Sunday and cars belonging to two city councillors, Colly Kelly and Sandra Duffy, damaged.

Mr Adams said death threats were also issued against Newry and Armagh candidate Mickey Brady and against North Belfast candidate Gerry Kelly, and that bomb threats were issued against two other Derry politicians - MEP Martina Anderson and Raymond McCartney MLA.

‘Anti-democratic groups’

“Those anti-democratic groups behind these actions are trying to intimidate Sinn Féin members and our families; and they are deliberately attacking the peace process and the political institutions,” said Mr Adams.

“If any other party in the Dáil was subject to attack, there would be understandable outrage. The Government and parties in the Dáil must take a clear stand against these actions, condemn them, and reject those who would seek to undermine the peace process and the political institutions in the North,” he added.