A SOCIAL welfare inspector has been sent a death threat in an envelope which also contained a bullet.
The woman, who is in her late 20s and based in Co Donegal, received the letter last week. It was addressed to her father at his home in Lifford and contained a note which was addressed to the woman.
It warned the woman to stop interfering in a social welfare investigation. She has since been transferred from her position to another office within Donegal for safety reasons.
“Gardaí at Lifford are investigating a threat to a female on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011,” the Garda Press Office said. “We have nothing further to add to this.”
The woman’s father has also refused to comment further on his family’s ordeal.
A source said they were very worried about the incident and were hoping it would pass over.
“You can imagine how they felt when they opened this letter and saw this bullet inside,” the source said. “The family are hoping this will pass but they are obviously sick to their stomachs with worry for their daughter.”
The threat comes after a recent crackdown on cross-Border social welfare fraud which saw people come from Northern Ireland into the Republic to claim welfare payments.
In Donegal alone, there has been a 35 per cent drop in those receiving rent allowance following action by social welfare inspectors.