Just a few short nights ago my home and that of my father, Alderman Woolsey Smith were attacked in the middle of the night.

As well as the attack on property I was subjected to a threat against my person and my father who is 77 years of age was the victim of a threat on his life when a noose was thrown at his house.

The cowards responsible for these twin attacks sought to justify them by claiming that both I and my father are 'traitors.'

It was because of that fact that in the Council I asked the local TUV councillor, Cllr Mark Russell who is also the TUV Secretary for the whole of Upper Bann if he agreed with that accusation and whether or not he agreed that both I and my 77 year old father are traitors. Cllr Russell refused to answer.

This question should not be difficult for Cllr Russell. For the life of me, I cannot see why it has proved so – either he believes that both I and my father are traitors or he believes that we are not.

If his answer is 'no we are not traitors' then all he has to do is to say so. What exactly is it that prevents him from clearing this whole issue up? Why does he find it so impossible to decide whether or not my 77 year old father and I are traitors?

Cllr Russell is an elected public representative. Two Unionist Councillors have been attacked and branded as 'traitors' during a night time attack. Cllr Russell has rightly condemned the actual attacks. He also claims to be the voice of traditional unionism and traditional unionist values on Craigavon Council.

He above all others ought to speak on this other matter. I would like, through your letters page invite the TUV Upper Bann secretary Cllr Russell to tell me and my father which it is – am I a traitor? Is my 77 year old father a traitor?

It is over to Cllr Russell.