Cardinal is 'going on as normal' after bullet in the post

Published on Thursday 21 April 2011 19:07

The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics yesterday said he was "going on as normal", after confirming he had received a bullet in the post last year.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who lives in Edinburgh, was sent the malicious package in the run-up to the Pope's visit to Scotland last September.

The letter, which the cardinal opened himself, is believed to have been sent by someone associating themselves with the Ulster Voluntary Force.

Headed "no surrender", it read "If you bring the Pope here… this is what he will get."

The cardinal said the threat received at his home in Morningside would not deter him from his work.

The Pope briefly visited Cardinal O'Brien's home during his visit to Edinburgh on 16 September last year.

It is believed the incident is unrelated to the current spate of letter-bombs sent to high-profile figures associated with Celtic. The most recent incidents prompted the cardinal to reveal last year's threat.

Confirming the incident, he said: "This was a horrific incitement to violence and deeply regrettable, but in the end it did not detract from the welcome the Pope received from the vast majority of Scots of all and no affiliations."

Police launched an investigation into the letter last year, but were unable to trace its origin.

The cardinal added: "I'm just going on as normal. It's not made any difference to my way of life. I'm just getting on with my work.

"I'm just sad that this sort of thing can and does happen in our country."

The Catholic Church did not make the incident public at the time for fear it would overshadow the papal visit, which passed without incident.

Peter Kearney, a spokesperson for the Church, said: "The feeling was we were happy to leave it in the hands the police".

The cardinal is one of a number of prominent Catholics to be warned of the threat of further packages. He has been told to be "cautious when dealing with mail", Mr Kearney added.