MI5 Seek to Recruit Newry Man

A Newry RSF member was approached by MI5.

On the morning of Tuesday, 22nd April a member of Republican Sinn Féin was stopped at Liverpool Airport. At approximately 7:45a.m. his passport was checked by Airport Police. They asked Oliver White – a member of the Joe Conway Cumann in Newry – to follow them into a room. MI5 were awaiting him there.

RSF Director of Publicity, Richard Walsh, said:

"Two women were waiting for him in the room, and identified themselves as members of the British Military Intelligence agency – MI5. They told him that they were concerned about young people becoming involved with the Republican Movement and said that the bloodshed had to stop.

"Oliver told them that he just kept his head down and could be of no assistance to him. The spies warned that they had his number and would contact him again. He was also warned not to mention the fact that he had been stopped by MI5 to his travelling companions.

"This is the latest in a long list of sinister attempts by British intelligence to recruit Republicans as informers. It is also notable that this recruitment attempt came whilst the Provos were preparing for a meeting in South Armagh, seeking to bolster support for their collaboration with the British forces of occupation.

"Republican Sinn Féin calls on anyone who has been approached by either British or Free State agents, or who may have been compromised, to come forward immediately to the Republican Movement."