The Police Ombudsman in the North is investigating claims by a former Special Branch officer that a break-in at Castlereagh police station in east Belfast was “allowed to happen” to protect a senior IRA agent. The break-in resulted in the theft of confidential material and provoked a major security alert.
Solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law confirmed that he had been corresponding with the PSNI about the matter since June. After the break-in on March 17th, 2002, it emerged that sensitive data, including a list of Special Branch officers and their telephone numbers, had been taken.
Code names of agents and their police handlers were also stolen during the burglary, as were the addresses of republicans and loyalists.
Millions of pounds were spent to help dozens of Special Branch officers move home following the security breach. The IRA denied responsibility for the break-in at the time.
A former Special Branch officer is alleging that the break-in was permitted, or allowed to happen, to protect a top-ranking IRA source.
The claim was made public yesterday on Radio Ulster by veteran security journalist Brian Rowan.
Statement of complaint
Mr Winters confirmed that his client, whose personal details were among the documents stolen, is prepared to make a formal statement of complaint. He said that if the allegations were sustained, it would point to a high level of criminal collusion between republicans and the security forces.
The Belfast-based solicitor wrote to the PSNI Chief Constable’s office in June requesting that his client “be treated as a victim of crime given that his personal details formed part of the material stolen”. The PSNI said it was not commenting on the case as it would be inappropriate to do so, given that it had been referred by the force to the Police Ombudsman.
Mr Winters said that his client “remains very concerned by the manner in which the authorities have investigated the crime and his allegations since 2002”.