Sharon O’Connor, Derry City Council chief executive.
Party leaders on Derry City Council and the Town Clerk and Chief Executive Sharon O’Connor met today to discuss the threat against Council’s Community Safety Warden staff.
The wardens have been withdrawn from duty following the threat from a dissident republican group.
Following a meeting elected members this morning, party leaders on the City Council – Cllr Gerard Diver (SDLP); Alderman Drew Thompson (DUP) and Cllr Paul Fleming (SF) – were united in their condemnation of the threat and called for its immediate withdrawal.
Ms O’Connor, who chaired the meeting, reiterated the call for the lifting of the threat saying any allegations against her staff were outrageous and should be condemned outright.
Cllr Fleming said it was important that every effort was made to remove the threat and allow the wardens to return to work and continue to serve the communities to address issues of low level anti-social and nuisance behaviour across urban and rural areas of the Council area.
Cllr Diver called on community organisations to unify in their opposition to the threats and help mobilise support for the workers.
Alderman Thompson said the threat not only caused concern for the individuals and their families directly involved but had a negative impact on the whole community who depended on the community warden service.
The elected members said they welcomed Council ‘s approach in dealing with the threats by putting the safety and wellbeing of the affected staff to the fore.
Ms O’Connor said: “We are calling on community groups, organisations and individuals across our city to actively voice their opposition to these threats and send a clear message back to those responsible for this intimidation that we do not accept this type of behaviour.
“You, the public, can pledge your opposition to these threats and channel your views through a number of channels and stand behind us as we support the Community Safety Wardens and the excellent service they do serving our communities.
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