Sinn Fein delegation meets Alderdice to discuss PSNI raids

A Sinn Fein delegation has met with assembly Speaker Lord Alderdice today to discuss the PSNI raid on the party's Stormont offices earlier in the month.

Sinn Féin's West Belfast MLA, Sue Ramsey, and assembly commission member, Dr Dara O'Hagan, met the Speaker in relation to the raid that police carried out as part of investigations into an alleged 'spy ring' at the Northern Ireland Office.

Speaking after the meeting Mrs Ramsey claimed the raids were part of an "elaborately choreographed performance for the media".

She added: "This raid begs a number of key questions. Who authorised this assault on the democratic institutions? Who authorised the PSNI to enter the building from within the assembly? Why did the PSNI gain entrance to the building prior to the production of a search warrant? When did the Speaker become away of the raid? Why was Sinn Féin not informed of the imminent raid?"

Mrs Ramsay said that two members of staff have already lodged formal complaints with the Police Ombudsman's Office as a result of the raid.

The West Belfast MLA said: "Clearly the PSNI had no intention of searching Sinn Féin offices but were instead engaged in a piece of political theatre. As we look at yet another suspension we must be aware of the damage that has now been done to the standing of these institutions."

Raids also took place in homes throughout north and west Belfast in connection to the alleged spy ring. Police recovered two computer disks during the raid at Stormont, which they have subsequently returned.

It is also believed that the names of all Northern Ireland's prison service staff – which were found to be in a laptop recovered from one of the homes in west Belfast – could now be in the hands of the IRA.

(MB)