Taoiseach says republicans tapped phone calls between him and Blair

SINN FÉIN and/or the IRA had transcripts of phone conversations between the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern yesterday told the Dáil.

Mr Ahern said he had ordered extensive security reviews in several departments after the revelations which followed the Police Service of Northern Ireland raids on Sinn Féin earlier this month. The raids subsequently led to charges against three people in the North’s courts and the fall of the Belfast power-sharing assembly and government.

Replying to questions from Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, Mr Ahern said he had received a briefing from the British authorities which he had no reason to doubt. This informed him republicans had access to very sensitive documents which included, as suggested by Mr Quinn, the phone transcripts.