4 SF members arrested

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday October 04, 2002 13:23 by red sp - sp

Off IT breaking news. Reprinted because you need a password to get in.

Four arrested in raid on Sinn Fein homes and offices
By Patrick Logue and Conor Pope Last updated: 04-10-02, 13:13

At least four people were arrested and documents seized when police raided the offices and homes of Sinn Fein members this morning.

The head of Sinn Fein's administration team at Stormont, Mr Denis Donaldson, was one of those taken in for questioning.

A party spokesman told ireland.com up to five homes of Sinn Fein members and community activists in west Belfast were raided at 5 a.m.

"Several persons were arrested and a number of items seized," a police spokesman said, adding that a search of the Stormont offices of an unidentified individual were continuing.

He said documents related to policing, human rights and justice issues were taken.

Ms Bairbre de Brun, a minister in the executive, said: "One of the things we are very anxious to learn at this point is whether John Reid had a part in this and if he signed this warrant or authorised it, it is something he needs to explain."

In response, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, defended the actions of the PSNI saying that "the police will follow wherever the evidence leads them."

"There will be no cover-ups," he added.

Up to 200 police officers were involved in the operation. A police spokeswoman said: "Police are investigating activities of republicans terrorists in Belfast."

The raid on Stormont was unprecedented and appeared to confirm the scale of the new inquiry.

But security sources insisted that today's searches and seizures were not connected to the investigation probe into the theft of intelligence files at Castlereagh police station last March.

Ms de Brun said the search was a political attack on a political party.

"It is absolutely outrageous and it is clearly part of a political picture of intervention by the police service of Northern Ireland.

"It is stemming from the time in the spring when David Trimble indicated he could foresee the possibility of bringing an end to the political institutions.

"It is clearly part of a campaign of media leaks and media briefings by people like assistant chief constable Alan McQuillan to attack the political process. It is part of an anti-Sinn Fein, anti-peace process agenda. We have protested to the British Government in the strongest possible terms."

© 2002 ireland.com