Death threats sent to new Oldham Athletic manager Darren Kelly, after a he allegedly posted a pro-IRA tweet, have resulted in the arrest of three men.
Police were called to the Latics’ Boundary Park ground on Monday morning after being alerted to a letter containing the threats.
As part of a subsequent investigation a 27-year-old man and 42-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill. They have been bailed until June 15 pending further enquiries.
A 31-year-old man was arrested on May 14 on suspicion of making threats to kill. He remains in police custody for questioning.
Detective Inspector Jason Byrne, said: “The letter sent to the club made some extremely serious threats to a number of individuals and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.
“We are also aware of equally vitriolic comments that have been made on social media and this too forms part of our investigation.
“We have now made three arrests after a third man that we were keen to speak to handed himself into a police station yesterday.
“I would also ask anyone who has information about the letter or those behind it to contact us.”
Derry-born Kelly, who took charge at Oldham last Tuesday, has denied claims he supported the IRA after he reportedly called Sinn Fein politician and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness a ‘legend’ on Twitter.
Former Sunderland academy coach Kelly’s Twitter account was deleted shortly before his unveiling at Boundary Park on Tuesday after the comment sparked outrage among some sections of Oldham’s support.
Sinn Fein representative McGuinness, also from Derry, is now Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and last year met the Queen when she visited Belfast.
In 1973, he was sentenced to six months in jail for terrorist activities, but the 65-year-old, who claims he left the IRA in 1974, won substantial praise for his role as a key player in peace talks in the 1990s.
Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 8955 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Image courtesy of Oldham Athletic via YouTube, with thanks.
