Chief Constable to investigate press leaks

The Northern Ireland's Chief Constable, Hugh Orde has ordered an investigation into media leaks relating to the Castlereagh and…

The Northern Ireland's Chief Constable, Hugh Orde has ordered an investigation into media leaks relating to the Castlereagh and Stormont inquiries, it was reported by the BBC today.

The decision by Mr Orde follows the controversy surrounding the alleged IRA spying at Stormont which led to the collapse of the power-sharing Executive and the decision to suspend Northern Ireland's political institutions on October 14th.

Ten days earlier Police Service of Northern Ireland staged a high profile raid on Sinn Féin's offices at Parliament Buildings arresting and charging four people in connection with the operation.

Mr Orde decided to act when it was revealed that the Special Branch and MI5 had been involved in a major bugging and surveillance operation against Sinn Féin.

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It was known for some months before the arrest and search operation that the republican group had infiltrated the Northern Ireland Office and had personal details of prison officers, the report adds.