Charlie Flanagan to discuss British ‘spy cops’ with James Brokenshire

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan will next week discuss the operation of undercover British police officers in the Republic with Northern Ireland secretary James Brokenshire, the Taoiseach has said.

He told AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy that "the security forces here would be very concerned about agents from another country operating in this jurisdiction".

Mr Murphy raised the issue as he highlighted a court case on Tuesday in Belfast in which “campaigners against political policing won a full hearing into the failure to include Northern Ireland in the Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing in Britain”.

And he called for the publication of a 2011 report commissioned by the Garda Commissioner into the operations of an undercover British officer, Mark Kennedy, “who was exposed as a secret member of the national public order intelligence unit. He had multiple intimate relationships with women using his false identity as an environmental activist called Mark Stone.”

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When Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl intervened to warn Mr Murphy against identifying individuals not in the House, Mr Murphy said “it was admitted. It is not in question. The Tánaiste has answered questions admitting he was here.”

Pitchford public inquiry

He named three other people whom he claimed were undercover British police officers operating in the State – Jim Boyling, Mark Jenner and John Dines.

The Pitchford public inquiry commenced in London in July 2015 to investigate the operation of undercover policing and officers who infiltrated trade unions and campaign groups and had allegedly exploitative relationships with women activists.

Mr Murphy said the Belfast court hearing follows an official request by Northern Ireland’s Minister for Justice seeking the North’s inclusion. The Dublin South-West TD said the German and Scottish governments had also written to the British government seeking the inclusion of the actions of so-called “spy cops” in their jurisdictions.

He asked why the Government had to date refused to request the inclusion of the activities of British undercover offices in this state in that inquiry.

The AAA-PBP TD said it was admitted that Mr Kennedy was in Ireland on multiple occasions and had participated in a number of protests. He added that 56 convictions and prosecutions had been overturned as a result of Mr Kennedy’s involvement.

Mr Kenny said Mr Flanagan would discuss the issue “and matters pertaining to it” with the northern secretary and issue a statement after the meeting next week.