Republicans yesterday (Tuesday) claimed they are being intimidated by Sinn Féin in a row over an alleged drugs baron.
Residents in the Rathenraw estate in Antrim town have adopted a zero tolerance attitude to the serious drugs problem in the area, and wanted the wife of a local man to leave the area after he was arrested in possession of £500,000 of ecstasy.
They are now claiming that gangs of Sinn Féin supporters arrived from Belfast to force them to back down from their action.
Local activist Paddy Murrary was defiant yesterday, saying: "The estate has gone from an estate that had the highest number of people wanting to leave to now being in highest demand from people wanting to live here."
Secretariat gets report
The Irish secretariat at Maryfield in Belfast has been receiving reports on the ongoing dispute between a residents association and Sinn Féin.
It has been confirmed by one of those at the heart of the row that the Irish government is closely monitoring events in the mainly nationalist Antrim estate after members of the residents association apparently received threats from the IRA.
Official sources have also confirmed the reports have been gathered, and government source has confirmed the matter could have serious repercussions for the peace talks next month.
The source said: "This is dreadful and could play very badly for Sinn Féin in the upcoming talks."
Members of Sinn Féin claim there is an anti-social element within the association, forcing families out of the Rathenraw estate in Antrim town, and have vowed to stamp out the problem.
But at a press conference in the estate yesterday, two ex-Sinn Féin, association members, denied the claims and say a republican gang last week ordered members to quit their homes and posts.
Aine Gribben (38) a mother of eight who is expecting her ninth child, is one of the members being singled out. She told The Star: "I believe I'm one of those being identified as a Fagin-type' character who is leading kids astray and it's a charge I totally deny.
"This is a result of us leaving the party last May.
"I have lived here over 25 years and from being an area heavily ruined by drug-dealing, it's now in the running for a most improved estate award.
"We have collectively done good work here, but I'm critical of the work Sinn Féin is now doing in Antrim, sending heavies from Belfast to order people around," she said.
She was also heavily critical of Sinn Féin's ability to accept the word of local loyalists.
She said: "I have seen the party side with the local UVF when disputes arise about violent incidents between rival sides, accepting their word as the gospel."
She also rubbished claims that people are afraid to live on the estate and accused Sinn Féin of trying to intimidate residents of the estate.
"The only threats are coming from the party members, who have told association people that every bone in their bodies will be broken.
"They are trying to criminalize us to justify getting rid of us later," she added.
Association chairperson Paddy Murray, an ex-IRA prisoner who served eight years for possession of explosives, was until last May, the party's local representative, but quit over what he sees as the party's apathy towards residents and their insistence on asking drug dealers to leave.
He told The Star: "This is part of a campaign to have me, and those associated with me, removed from the estate."
A Sinn Féin source admitted there was "an altercation" last Monday, but when asked about allegations of physical and verbal threats he said: "There have been no threats made by anybody in Sinn Féin."
Murray added: "The Irish Secretariat has been in touch with the families and are looking with interest in relation to the bigger picture."
