Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, the Irish journalists’ union and others have condemned the death threat made to a journalist working for the Irish News, a newspaper based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The threat, received on Friday, is connected to a murder investigation.

“A threat against a highly respected colleague is deplorable and all attempts to undermine press freedom must be firmly resisted whenever and wherever they emerge,” Noel Doran, the newspaper’s editor, said.

Doran said the newspaper will not be cowed into abandoning its duties, suggesting it is not the first time it has faced similar situation.

“Journalists in Northern Ireland will not be deterred by such threats. The Irish News has faced down bullies before. Our members will never give in to those who seek to deny the right to freedom of expression to those who expose inconvenient truths,” he noted.

Also condemning the threat, McGuinness called the threat “cowardly” and “unacceptable” and said it should be withdrawn.

The National Union of Journalist, NUJ, said journalists must not be intimated while working in the interest of the public.

“There is a need for independent, fearless journalism in Northern Ireland and in the current climate we regard the death threat as especially worrying,” Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the NUJ, said.

“Journalists must be allowed to work in the public interest without intimidation. There is an obligation on those in positions of influence to work to ensure that reporters, photographers and editors are able to operate without risk or threat from any quarter,”

The newspaper said the Northern Ireland Police Service, PSNI, is aware of the threat.

The Irish News is a popular daily newspaper with a circulation of more than 37,000 copies a day.