PSNI warned assault victim of IRA threat

McCartney case: An east Belfast man who was allegedly assaulted last month because of his support for the McCartney family's Justice for Robert campaign has been warned he faces attack from the Provisional IRA, according to his family.

News of the warning was confirmed on the day the Independent Monitoring Commission issued a report stating there were "encouraging" indications the IRA was observing its July 28th commitment to end activity.

PSNI officers called to the home of Jeff Commander on Monday to tell him of the threat, his wife Sinead told The Irish Times yesterday. He was threatened because he provided evidence against two republicans who allegedly assaulted him last month, she added.

Ms Commander said police gave her husband an official note stating: "The Provisional IRA continues to be unhappy that you have given evidence against Provisional IRA members to the PSNI. Should this remain the case it is their intention to carry out some form of attack on your person."

Mr Commander (34) blamed republicans for attacking him with sewer rods and iron bars in the Clandeboye area of Belfast, close to the Short Strand, in mid September. He said the attack was not authorised by the IRA, but a number of known Provisional republicans were involved. He suffered a severe head injury for which he required hospital treatment.

Mr Commander, a father of five children, was a close friend of Robert McCartney, who was killed by IRA members at the end of January in an unauthorised attack.

After his beating Mr Commander reported the incident to the PSNI, identifying those he believed assaulted him.