IRA death threat

Vincent McKenna, a postgraduate student at Queen's University Belfast, has received a death threat from the IRA. This follows the expression of views by him on the issue of Orange marches on the Ormeau Road. As members of the university, we deplore the threat against Mr McKenna and call for it to be withdrawn.

The free expression of views is a freedom which lies at the heart of a university's role in society. The experience elsewhere in the world is that such threats "chill" freedom of expression among students and the wider university community. We reiterate the internationally recognised human right of freedom of expression, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights.

Dermot Feenan

Liam Kennedy

Graham Gudgin

Richard Jay

Paul Bew

Department of economic and social history, department of politics and NIERC Queen's University of Belfast