The grandmother of a man expelled from Derry last week has called on the paramilitaries behind the order to give him the opportunity to clear his name.

By Alan Healy

alan@derrynews.net

The Derry News revealed on Thursday how four men were told to leave the town by a group understood to represent dissident republicans, with at least one of threats issued on pain of death.

One of the men – a 22-year-old from the Shantallow area – was ordered to leave the city after it was alleged he committed an indecent assault on woman in the Lenamore area earlier this month.

The man was informed by letter last week that he had 48 hours to leave the town, ‘or be executed’.

It is understood that the man is currently residing in Donegal.

However, speaking to the Derry News, the man’s grandmother – who did not wish to be named - said that it her grandson should at least be allowed to return to the city in order to defend himself against the charge.

And she revealed she will now talk to the paramilitaries responsible for the expulsion so he is at least allowed to give his side of the story.

“We really don’t know what we can do, but I have a phone number now and I’m going to ring these boys and see if my grandson is allowed to come back and at least explain his side of the story,” she said.

She also revealed that her grandson had been nowhere near Lenamore – or indeed Derry - at the time of the indecent assault.

“The thing is that he wasn’t even in Derry when the attack happened,” she said.

“He was in Donegal picking up his giro and he doesn’t drive so I don’t know how they think he could have got up to Derry and back over the border in less than twenty minutes.

“After we got the letter and they said he attacked that woman he called up to me and said ‘Nana, I might be a lot of things, but I’m not that.”