This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7465055.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Twenty under city death threats Twenty under city death threats
(about 1 hour later)
Between 15 and 20 people in Londonderry have been told by police over the past six months, their lives are under threat from paramilitaries. Between 15 and 20 people in Londonderry have been told by police over the past six months their lives are under threat from paramilitaries.
The city's most senior policeman, Chief Inspector Chris Yates, said there had been a recent increase in the number of threats.The city's most senior policeman, Chief Inspector Chris Yates, said there had been a recent increase in the number of threats.
Last weekend four men in Derry received death threats which are believed to have come from dissident republicans.Last weekend four men in Derry received death threats which are believed to have come from dissident republicans.
Chief Inspector Yates said such threats "were taken extremely seriously".Chief Inspector Yates said such threats "were taken extremely seriously".
"Obviously we can't discuss the personal safety of an individual, and we can't discuss individual cases, but the decision to issue a personal threat notice is taken by a very senior officer," he said."Obviously we can't discuss the personal safety of an individual, and we can't discuss individual cases, but the decision to issue a personal threat notice is taken by a very senior officer," he said.
"There's a number of considerations that are made, such as the veracity of the information and where that information has come from.
"All of these things are looked at from a number of perspectives," he said.
Meanwhile, the grandmother of one of the men who was issued with a death threat at the weekend has said her grandson is willing to face his accusers.Meanwhile, the grandmother of one of the men who was issued with a death threat at the weekend has said her grandson is willing to face his accusers.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, said he wanted the opportunity to clear his name.The woman, who did not want to be identified, said he wanted the opportunity to clear his name.
"My grandson has been accused of attacking someone," she said."My grandson has been accused of attacking someone," she said.
"He got a letter from the police to say that his life was under threat and that he had 48 hours to get out or they'd shoot him on the spot."He got a letter from the police to say that his life was under threat and that he had 48 hours to get out or they'd shoot him on the spot.
"In the meantime, my grandson is trying to check out who is saying this about him."In the meantime, my grandson is trying to check out who is saying this about him.
"He's willing to come and face whoever he has to face because he can say where he was, he was out of town, and he has witnesses to say he was out of town," she said."He's willing to come and face whoever he has to face because he can say where he was, he was out of town, and he has witnesses to say he was out of town," she said.
The threat was made through Father Joe Gormley from St Brigid's Church in Carnhill, who passed it on to the police.The threat was made through Father Joe Gormley from St Brigid's Church in Carnhill, who passed it on to the police.