Andrew Muir says he won’t be intimidated after death threat

A Stormont minister has vowed he will not be intimidated after revealing he received a death threat.

Andrew Muir said an anonymous person posted a comment on a Zoom call that they wanted to see him shot, during a discussion about his proposed Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029

The Agriculture Minister has previously spoken out about misogynistic remarks directed at some of his officials, as well as racism against workers in the agri-food sector recently on social media.

It comes during heated opposition from the farming community to the proposed nutrients programme, which is currently out for consultation.

Mr Muir has been urged to scrap the proposals, which are aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources.

Opponents say the proposals could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security.

Speaking to the media at Stormont, Mr Muir said: “Very disappointed to report that I have received a death threat.

“There was a Zoom call last Monday to discuss the Nutrients Action Programme proposals as part of the consultation underway.

“A person anonymously posted a comment that they wanted to see me shot.

“This comes on the heels of a lot of discriminatory comments, the most vile homophobic comments against myself, also misogynistic comments against officials in my department and racist comments in terms of people working within our agri-food industry and I am very grateful to have them working with us in Northern Ireland.

“I condemn these comments and this death threat against me.

“Can I just say, I will not be intimidated by anyone.”

The minister insisted that the proposals within the programme are draft and no final decisions have been taken.

He added: “But if we are serious about giving a real strong future for farming and also turning around the situation with regards to Lough Neagh, we have got to face up to difficult issues.

“I encourage people to engage in the consultation and allow us to shape the way forward.

“Since I became minister, I have been welcomed into the homes of many farmers. They have given a strong, warm welcome.

“These online comments and that death threat of last week does not reflect the farming community in Northern Ireland.

“We need to have respectful dialogue, we don’t need death threats.”

Pollution from nutrients, both from agriculture and from sewage, has been cited as one of the main reasons for the environmental crisis at Lough Neagh, which has seen Noxious blooms of algae cover large parts of the water in the past two summers.