Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín called tonight on the DUP to make clear its opposition to the sinister actions of loyalist paramilitary groups and others attempting to derail the democratic process in north Belfast.

Carál Ní Chuilín was speaking after her party made a complaint to the police that men with their faces covered removed posters from the Oldpark Road in Belfast.

Carál Ní Chuilín said:

“Only last week, the UDA threatened members of the Ulster Unionist Party simply because the party had indicated it might field a candidate in the election in North Belfast.

“Those threats were made only days before the UUP said it would not enter the contest, giving a clear run to the DUP.

“On Monday Sinn Féin contacted police about vile posters erected by loyalists in the Shankill area attacking John Finucane and his family and the memory of his father Pat who was murdered by a UDA death squad colluding with the state.

“Tonight, men with their faces covered mounted a ladder to remove Sinn Féin election posters from the Oldpark Road in Belfast

“Our party has made a complaint to the police about this criminal act of theft.

“A pattern of threats and intimidation is emerging in this contest and this latest action is another sinister attempt to derail the democratic process.

“There is a responsibility for these threats and attempts to demonise John Finucane to be condemned across the board and a duty on the police to take these actions seriously.

“It’s time for the DUP to make it clear it supports without any equivocation the democratic process and to put distance between itself and active loyalist paramilitary groups engaged in intimidation and threats to kill.”