McGuinness accuses Murphy of sanctioning bugging equipment

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has accused Secretary of State Paul Murphy of authorising the "bugging" of a party official in West Belfast which was uncovered on Monday.

The Mid-Ulster MP said he would be demanding a statement on the matter from Mr Murphy after the "sophisticated bugging device" was discovered by workmen at the home of a woman who works at party president Gerry Adams' constituency office.

Mr McGuinness said: "This is a serious breach of faith by the British government and I believe that it comes directly from within the NIO. I have to presume that it was authorised by the British Secretary of State Paul Murphy in his role as head of the NIO and rest assured I will be raising this directly with him."

In a party statement on Monday, Sinn Fein claimed the device was the work "of a British State agency and is part of a spying and intelligence gathering operation".

The NIO has refused to comment on the claims however Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he would be raising the matter with the government.

(MB/GMCG)