Playwright Gary Mitchell in hiding

One of the most talked about voices in European theatre is in hiding - and his extended family have been forced to flee their homes - after a campaign of death threats and bomb attacks by loyalist paramilitaries.

Gary Mitchell, whose political thrillers have arguably made him Northern Ireland's greatest playwright, was told that every "Mitchell had to get out or be killed in four hours". His home was attacked by men with baseball bats and petrol bombs.

More from Angelique Chrisafis in The Guardian.

There is a lot of discussion about the story on Northern Irish politics blogs, such as Slugger O'Toole.

Update: Mitchell talks on BBC Radio 4's Front Row.