The SDLP and Sinn Féin in Strabane have clashed over a planned protest at the first public meeting of the town's District Policing Partnership (DPP) tomorrow night.
Former West Tyrone assembly member and Strabane council chairman Eugene McMenamin called on Sinn Féin to withdraw its protest plans following two recent attacks on DPP members.
Sinn Féin said it would hold a "peaceful and dignified" protest to highlight its opposition to the current structural and accountability arrangements of DPPs.
Dissident republicans were blamed for placing a hoax device under the car of Strabane DPP chairman Tom McBride and an arson attack on a car belonging to Independent member Arthur McGarrigle.
Mr McMenamin claimed Sinn Féin's intention to protest tomorrow night amounted to "psychological intimidation" of members.
"Regardless what spin Sinn Féin put on the protest, dignified or whatever, this in my view is intimidation of the highest order," he said.
"Sinn Féin have the right to protest but I feel in the current climate this is ill advised.
"The Sinn Féin leadership have condemned all the attacks on DPP members but I feel that these protests are only giving succour to those who are attacking elected and civilian members of the DPP," he said.
Strabane Sinn Féin councillor Jarlath McNulty said:
"While we disagree with the SDLP stance on policing, we nonetheless support the right of people to sit on DPPs,
"The issue is structural and it is completely unjustified for anyone to target members of the DPPs," he said.
Mr McNulty said Sinn Féin's right to protest had already been acknowledged by Strabane DPP chairman Tom McBride.
"We will be using this protest to once again highlight the absence in powers of the DPPs," he said.
