DUP representative vows to carry on working despite gun threat

David Hilditch, who represents the East Antrim constituency at Stormont, said he was informed by police of the threat last on Monday evening.

“I was visited late last night by police and alerted to a threat against myself involving the use of a firearm,” he said.

“I have been a public representative for nearly thirty years but I will not be deterred from that work by faceless people.”

Party leader Arlene Foster said: “There is absolutely no place for threats against any elected representative and we all must make it clear that the criminals involved in such activity will not succeed.

“As party colleagues we stand with David as I know the people of East Antrim and beyond will also.”

Mr Hilditch is the sixth political representative in Northern Ireland to be threatened in recent weeks, with a number of journalists also being targeted.

Steve Aiken and Doug Beattie of the Ulster Unionists, Stephen Farry of Alliance, Sinn Fein’s Linda Dillon and Patsy McGlone of the SDLP have all been threatened by loyalist paramilitaries.

It is not yet known if the threat to Mr Hilditch is connected to the recent spate of paramilitary intimidation.