Worries over MI5 role in arms raid
20 June 2006
The PSNI claimed yesterday [Monday] to have broken up a dissident republican arms-smuggling operation after a series of raids were carried out in Ireland and France yesterday but last night Republican Sinn Féin branded the raids as harassment.
A total of ten people were arrested after eight properties in counties Armagh and Fermanagh were targeted in a series of raids.
The PSNI also confirmed that some of its members had travelled to France to take part in a search operation there.
Up to 200 PSNI men, supported by the British army, took part in the operation that centred on parts of Armagh and Fermanagh.
It is known that a number of properties were raided in the Lurgan area of north Armagh and the Donagh and Lisnaskea districts of Fermanagh.
Significantly the PSNI confirmed that their operation was carried out after a joint investigation between them and “British security services”, prompting speculation that M15, MI6 or both were involved.
Earlier this month, it emerged that a £20 million (€29 million) base is currently being built outside Belfast to cater for M15 when they take primary responsibility for investigating paramilitary organisations next year.
Nationalists are opposed to the move on the grounds that the shadowy intelligence agency will not be accountable to any oversight body.
Some nationalist politicians have also expressed concerns over allegations that MI5 had prior knowledge of the Omagh bombing which killed 29 people in 1998.
A spokesperson for the PSNI last night said that their raids had caused “disruption of a conspiracy by dissident republicans to procure a significant quantity of arms”.
Republican Sinn Féin last night hit out at the raids.
An RSF spokesman said: “Republican Sinn Féin regards this raiding and arresting as gratuitous harassment. The name of the RUC may have changed but otherwise these aspects of British rule remain the same.”
