Robin Swann: Man charged over threat to kill Northern Ireland health minister

Robin Swann faced similar malicious comments earlier in the year

(PA)

A man has been charged over death threats made on social media to Northern Ireland health minister Robin Swann.

The 43-year-old was charged by police investigating offences including harassment and threats to kill.

He was arrested in the Newtownards area of County Down on Thursday in relation to comments made the day before and will appear before Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on 17 September.

A spokesperson from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

Mr Swann said he deemed the threats serious enough to warrant “informing the appropriate authorities”.

Responding to questions about the malicious comments during a media briefing on Thursday, he added: “I would rather people direct that frustration and anger at me as minister, than at the health service workers or at those frontline workers.

“If a level of frustration is targeted at me rather than them, I will accept that.”

The latest case is not the first time Mr Swann has received threats of violence.

In April, a 26-year-old man was arrested in Ballymena, County Antrim after “threatening and offensive comments” were made against the health minister on social media.

Steve Aiken, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, condemned the threats made to his party’s minister.

He said: “He [Mr Swann] took on a job which no one else wanted and he has committed long days and nights making difficult decisions, working with his colleagues in the Department of Health and the NHS, to protect the public during a global pandemic, the likes of which we haven’t faced in 100 years.

“He has been verbally attacked, threats of physical violence made against him and his family, and attempts made to undermine his good character.”

Additional reporting by Press Association