PNIS Raids politically inspired

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday October 04, 2002 15:43 by McMean

Denis Donaldson, Head of Administration for Sinn Féin at the Assembly was arrested in the early hours of this morning at his home in West Belfast. Other raids and arrests took place on the homes of community activists involved in Policing, Human Rights and Justice issues. Papers relating to these issues were seized. Commenting on this arrest and the other raids, Conor Murphy MLA said:

``This is a further politically inspired intervention by the PSNI as part of their wider anti-Sinn Féin and anti-Irish republican agenda. This is part of the campaign which began in the spring after David Trimble outlined the possibility that he would collapse the political institutions.

``Since then there has been a series of briefings, leaks and bogus statements planted in the media by senior PSNI figures like Alan McQuillan and other securocrats. The arrest of Denis Donaldson represents an upping of the ante in this campaign. We have protested in the strongest possible terms to the British government through the office of the party President Gerry Adams.

``These raids are clearly part of the PSNI's anti peace process, anti democracy and anti Sinn Féin agenda.''ENDS
Raid on SF Stormont offices ``outrageous''

The leader of the Sinn Féin group in the Dáil, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, has described as ``outrageous'' the PSNI/RUC raid on the Sinn Féin offices in Stormont and the homes of Sinn Féin members. Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

``This is an outrageous attack on a political party instigated by those within the PSNI/RUC who are most bitterly opposed to real change in policing and to the entire Agreement. Those arrested were involved in formulating our party's detailed analysis and policy on the policing issue. This raid is clearly part of the current propaganda effort to target Sinn Féin in pursuance of the anti-Agreement agenda of the Ulster Unionist Party.

``I am calling on the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs to protest to the British government in the strongest possible terms.''ENDS