SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin has condemned a threat against a senior judge.
Graffiti appeared at Newtownards Courthouse ahead of a number of sittings on Wednesday morning.
The name of District Judge Mark Hamill was daubed on the courthouse wall along with crosshairs.
The threat is related to an ongoing feud between rival loyalist drug gangs in Newtownards and the North Down area.
Earlier this month District Judge Hamill remanded Harry Murray (24) into custody after he breached his High Court bail conditions.
Murray was charged in June this year with offences of unlawful assembly and affray in connection with a gathering in the Weaver’s Grange area of Newtownards, Co Down.
Remanding Murray back into custody at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on July 13, District Judge Hamill said: “My approach (to bail) is coloured and I will say this again until it finally percolates. This is a question about the rule of law in North Down.
“I say that because there was a challenge to the rule of law in North Down when during the course of this ongoing feud some genius decided to daub a threat to kill on the walls of the court in Newtownards.
“That was a threat to the rule of law in Newtownards and it was a message to the court. Well, the court is giving a message straight back. No chance of bail. Take him down.”
Said the Foyle MLA: “This threat against District Judge Mark Hamill is absolutely disgraceful and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“Nobody should be subjected to threats for simply doing their job and any attempt to intimidate a member of our judiciary or influence the rule of law must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
“Those behind this threat have wreaked havoc within their own community and anyone found to have engaged in wrongdoing must face the consequences of their actions.
“Any attempt to impede justice from taking its course through threats or anything else will fail and those responsible will be held accountable.
“This threat will evoke painful memories for many people in Northern Ireland, with a number of legal professionals sadly losing their lives during our troubled past.
“My thoughts are with Judge Hamill, his family and anyone who has been affected by this threat.”
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