Sinn Fein's Northern chairman, Mr Gerry O hEara, has warned nationalists and republicans to "remain vigilant" following a suspect package being sent to the home of a Lurgan man. Mr Colin Duffy is on remand charged with the murder of two RUC men in the Co Armagh town in June. The package, which was later declared a hoax, was addressed to his wife Susan, who is expecting their second child. She was not at home at the time.
The postman brought the parcel to Mr Duffy's mother's home in the nearby estate of Lurgantarry shortly after 2 p.m.
According to Mr Duffy's brother, Paul, who answered the door, the postman said the parcel was partially opened and appeared to have shotgun pellets inside.
He said the post office must have put the parcel into a plastic bag, as it was broken. Mr Duffy said he would not accept the parcel, which had a Belfast postmark, and it was decided to put it in a bin before telephoning the police.
Scores of homes were evacuated during the security operation which lasted until about 5.30 p.m. ?????iona, would have been injured. Ms Susan Duffy said: "I can't understand it. If it was the work of loyalists I blame the RUC, they are the ones who have been targeting my husband. We do not need this. We are due to have our second baby any day now. We do not need this. I blame the RUC."
Colin Duffy, who was released last year by the Court of Appeal after spending three years in jail for the murder of a former UDR soldier in Lurgan, was charged in July with the murders of two RUC officers shot dead as they patrolled the Co Armagh town. He has denied the charges and claims he is being targeted by the RUC.