Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Enterprise and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir has received a death threat, that has been reported to the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Minister Muir said that a comment was posted during a Zoom call he was attending, which threatened to “have (the minister) shot”.
The PSNI said it has received reports of threats, and has launched an investigation.
Minister Muir said: “I’m disappointed to see some of the online comments posted in recent times, both in terms of myself and also officials.
“This does not reflect the vast majority of people in farming, I have been welcomed into many farmers’ homes and I’m grateful for the warm and respectful welcome since I took up ministerial office.”
The minister also believes it is important to “lower the tone” in wider public discourse on the draft Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) proposals.
He said: “This is a public consultation – there’s no need to issue death threats against me, nor make discriminatory comments about anyone.
“We have a critical challenge in terms of improving water quality in Lough Neagh, and also giving financial stability and certainty for farming here.
“That will not change via death threats or anything else. I have a job to do for the people of Northern Ireland and I will continue to do that,” the minister added.
Minister Andrew Muir
The deputy leader of the Alliance Party, Eóin Tennyson has described the death threat as “deplorable and unacceptable”.
Tennyson said: “I am proud of the leadership Andrew has offered on Lough Neagh and the protection of our environment. Whilst there must always be space for honest, open and robust political debate; there can be no place for intimidation or threat of violence.
“Threats against any politician are an attack on the democratic process.”
The chief superintendent of the PSNI, Stephen Murray said that the PSNI will do all it can to ensure that politicians are supported, and that they can undertake their role “free from fear and intimidation”.
Murray said: “It is totally unacceptable that anyone should face abuse or threats simply for carrying out the duties of their office. We will thoroughly investigate any such incident.
“We regularly engage with our elected representatives in order to provide information on personal safety, how the police service can support them and, crucially, when to report an incident to police.”
“We regularly engage with assembly and parliamentary officials, and the electoral commission, in regard to elected representative safety,” Murray added.
