Decision to drop charges ‘independent’

NORTHERN Secretary Peter Hain yesterday dismissed as “preposterous” any suggestion that the dropping of charges against republicans accused of operating an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont had been politically motivated.

Mr Hain said the Attorney General knew of the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions last week to drop the charges “in the public interest”, and he himself had been told but not consulted before the announcement.

The arrest and charging of three men on spying charges in October 2002 led to the collapse of the power-sharing administration at Stormont and became known as Stormontgate.