Paisley claims 300 people put at risk by "spy ring"

DUP leader Ian Paisley has claimed that around 300 people have been alerted about their personal security following an alleged Real IRA spying operation at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

The claims follow last week's arrests of five people in connection with what police have described as an intelligence gathering operation carried out by dissident republican paramilitaries, with the aim of collecting information about politicians and members of the security forces and Policing Board.

A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria hospital confirmed that one of its employees had been questioned by police about a "serious breach of patient confidentiality".

Police have refused to comment on the scale of the issue, but Rev Paisley has claimed that at least 300 people have been contacted following the announcement.

He went on to criticise police handling of another situation, which saw republican protesters enter the offices of a Prison Service building last week, causing concern that sensitive material could have been seen during the altercation.

Describing it as yet another incident in a series of security breaches, Rev Paisley added: "It's an absolute scandal and the Police Service of Northern Ireland doesn't know what those files contain, how much information or how much people are now jeopardised."

(CL)