PSNI accused of trying to collapse Stormont

A man arrested as part of the PSNI investigation into an alleged IRA spy plot at Stormont has accused the North's Special Branch…

A man arrested as part of the PSNI investigation into an alleged IRA spy plot at Stormont has accused the North's Special Branch of working to undermine the Belfast Agreement and of collapsing the Stormont Assembly.

Speaking in court after crown lawyer Mr Patrick Lynch withdrew a charge of the possession of documents, Mr Ciaran Kearney (32) told the court the "Special Branch collapsed the power-sharing executive and . . . endangered the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Kearney, of Commedagh Drive, west Belfast , was arrested in October 2002 with his father-in-law Mr Denis Donaldson, (53), Sinn Fein administration chief at Stormont, and Mr William Mackessy, who worked at NIO offices.

"Most of all, the allegation that I possessed documents of a secret, confidential and restrictive nature originating from the Northern Ireland Office has been withdrawn without explanation," Mr Kearney told the court.

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All three men, who were arrested after police raided Sinn Fein's Stormont offices have been out on bail but appeared in court today to hear the charges against them.

Mr Donaldson, of Aitnamona Crescent, is also accused of possessing documents useful to terrorists.

Mr Mackessy is accused of collecting information between February 19th, 2001, and October 5th, 2002, including the military vehicle registration details and security force operational movements, together with maps of the NIO offices and personal details on the former judge.

Mr Mackessy and Mr Donaldson declined to comment but Kearney vented his anger at the way the raids had affected him personally and the wider peace process.

"Special Branch collapsed the power-sharing executive and have endangered the Good Friday Agreement ... They have not yet been made accountable for that act of political subversion."

All three men were returned for trial in Belfast Crown Court at a later date.