Reports that the life of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is under threat from dissident republicans are per-haps not unexpected but they are nonetheless disturbing.
Splits and feuds are not uncommon among republican and loyalist groupings here. So there is every reason to take the PSNI warning to Mr Adams seriously.
The policies espoused by any political group or individual will never enjoy the support of an entire community. That is not a reason for murder.
Very often only a tiny section of society supports a particular ideal. Nevertheless all points of view are legitimate – so long as they do not depend on an aggressive campaign of violence to promote them.
Dissident republicans have been attempting to promote their aims through such a violent campaign. And it is clear that they are attempting to capitalise on the present difficulties being experienced in the peace process to attract further support.
It is not the aims or ideals of dissident republicans which marginalises them. It is the methods which they use to promote those goals.
Mainstream republicans learned that lesson decades ago. Despite the current impasse in the peace process much has been achieved for the entire community since the ceasefires were put in place.
It is clear that there are forces both in republicanism and loyalism which would like nothing better than to see this community returned to the chaotic, murderous days of fear we all endured before the ceasefires. A threats against the life of Gerry Adams is a symptom of those intentions.
Those difficulties should be a spur to all who wish to see the Good Friday Agreement implemented fully, the institutions up and running again and new elections held.
Every day there is political inactivity gives the dissidents on both sides a chance to exploit the situation, to entice more young men and women into a life of violence with talk of 'principles' and 'ideals'.
