Castlereagh break in

From The Starry Plough
Apr. 2002

Once again we have witnessed a farcicle episode involving the RUC, MI5, PIRA and Sinn Fein revolving aroung the burglary at the former Castlereagh torture centre on St Patrick's day.

A few solid facts have emerged and a whole lot of misimformation have emerged. The most difficult task for observers is to determine the facts from the fiction.

Fact 1; There was a break-in at room 202, the contact point for RUC informers and their handlers in the Belfast area.

Fact 2; It was definately an inside job because the office had only moved to this location in the two weeks prior to the theft and highly detailed and up to date information was needed to gain access to this office.

Fact 3; The documents stolen included details of informers and their handlers.

Fact 4; It was obviously a well planned operation involving military precision.

Fact 5; Security surrounding the investigation of the murder of Pat Finucane has been stepped up as a "precautionary measure"

Fact 6; That investigation is headed by Sir John Stevens, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and is looking into claims that the British Army and RUC colluded with Loyalist Death Squads in the murder of Pat Finucane.

Fact 7; Stevens has been investigating Special Branche's role in the murder and has requested access to their files.

Fact 8; Sir John Chilcot of MI5, a former civil servant who was involved in secret contacts with the IRA in the early 1990[base ']s has been named by the British Government as head of their inquiry into the break-in.

Fact 9; A large number of Special Branch personel have been promoted inside the "new" Police Service of Northern Ireland (new RUC).

Fact 10; Despite all the theories doing the rounds and the RUC assertion that the IRA were involved in the break-in not one shred of evidence has emerged. Despite the arrests no-one has been charged with the break-in.

These are the facts. Little hard evidence of anything. Readers - draw your own conclusions!

Last update: 4/17/02; 7:26:23 AM.