Mitchell links SF to disappearance of mail

GAY MITCHELL has become the latest politician to back Michael McDowell’s allegations linking Sinn Féin with criminality after making the extraordinary claim that Republican subversives may have tampered with his post.

The newly elected Fine Gael MEP disclosed yesterday that official Oireachtas correspondence in his name had disappeared in sinister circumstances.

Raising the matter in the Dáil, Mr Mitchell called for an enquiry into how at least three letters sent to an un-named area of his constituency within an eight-day period in February failed to arrive.

“If Republicans were carrying out surveillance on TDs then they have to be on the list of suspects,” he said.

Last week, Niall Binead, also known as Niall Bennett, aged 35, of Faughart Road, Crumlin and Kenneth Donohoe, aged 26, of Sundale Avenue, Mountain View, Tallaght, were convicted of IRA membership at the Special Criminal Court.

Binead is a key election worker for Dublin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, who shares a constituency with Mr Mitchell.

A garda search of Binead’s house found a list naming leading Irish politicians, including former Justice Minister John O’Donoghue and Mr Mitchell himself.

Once sentencing is completed, Mr Mitchell called for the Dáil to debate the implications of the case for Sinn Féin. For its part, Sinn Féin has claimed that the convictions are unsafe.

In a direct challenge to Sinn Féin, Mr Mitchell stated: “If they have anything to say about the surveillance of TDs and the disappearance of post let them say it in the Dáil.”

Justice Minister Michael McDowell also made a similar call yesterday, saying Sinn Féin was duty-bound to explain the conviction.

A Sinn Féin spokesman last night dismissed the claims out of hand. “Gay Mitchell has lost the plot. He is like agent Moulder from the X Files - he sees conspiracies everywhere. If he has a problem with a couple of letters going missing from the post then he should take the matter up with An Post,” he said.