Dolores Kelly Undettered by Threats from Armed Masked Man
Published by SDLP Youth on Wednesday 27th May 2009
SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has said a threat from a man in a balaclava armed with an air gun will not deter her from serving her constituents.
Ms Kelly was confronted by a man at Kilwilkie Gardens in Lurgan on Tuesday evening who told her to get out of the town or she would be shot. Ms Kelly was helping to canvass the area ahead of the upcoming European Election.
She said: “We had two teams of canvassers in Kilwilkie and I did notice a crowd of young fellas in a car pull up. They drove off again so I thought nothing of it until I heard someone say my name and saw a young man in a balaclava, who told me in no uncertain terms that I was to leave the area or I would be shot. He had what seemed to be an air gun. He also threatened another member of my party and pointed the gun directly at his face.
“Let me make this very clear to those people who think they can intimidate me or my party - they will not. This is an affront to democracy. I am proud to be an elected representative for this area and a young thug like that will not deter me from my work.
“This type of person offers nothing to the community. There was a teenage girl with me helping me canvass. This person thinks he’s being a big man by threatening us, but he’s the opposite. A coward is too good a word for him.
“The matter is now with the PSNI and for the safety of those with me I decided to finish canvassing for the evening after the incident. This, however, will not stop me from doing what I was democratically elected to do - to serve the community. I wish it to be known that the SDLP fought for civil rights and we will not let an incident like this keep us from helping the good people of Lurgan.”
Tags: Dolores Kelly, Lurgan
