PSNI raid ‘necessary for democracy’

A POLICE raid on Sinn Féin offices at Stormont which led to the suspension of devolution in Northern Ireland had to take place for the sake of democracy, it was claimed yesterday.

As Sinn Féin denounced a Police Ombudsman report which challenged its claim that the October 2002 raid was politically motivated, Democratic Unionist Policing Board member Ian Paisley Junior insisted it had to take place because the personal details of prison officers, police and politicians had fallen into the hands of republicans.

"The raid on the Sinn Féin office as part of the overall Stormont spy ring operation was absolutely necessary not only in restoring law and order but also democracy," the North Antrim MLA said.

"This whole episode illustrates why the Ulster Unionist Party should never have partnered Sinn Féin/ IRA into government in the first place. They were not fit for government then, they are not fit for government now and they will never be fit for government again until they deal with their illegally-held arms, their criminal enterprises and this sort of paramilitary activity," he said.

While police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said the operation was justified, she criticised PSNI officers for acting in a heavy-handed manner.

The ombudsman found no evidence to suggest the search was politically motivated or was designed to damage Sinn Féin and the peace process. She said the search was part of normal police processes following an earlier search of a home.

But she added: "No proper consideration was given by police to the fact that they were searching the buildings of a legislative assembly. This was a significant failing by police."

A team of investigators from the ombudsman's office established PSNI officers had earlier that morning carried out searches at a number of locations in the greater Belfast area including the home of Sinn Féin official, Denis Donaldson.

"On the basis of the intelligence available, I can say the detective chief superintendent's decision to seek a warrant authorising a search of a specific desk in the Sinn Féin offices was reasonable, proportionate and legal," Mrs O'Loan said.

"We have not uncovered any evidence that the police decision-making was influenced inappropriately by any other officers within the PSNI, by politicians or by any other parties."

The inquiry also did not uncover evidence police had tipped off media about the raid another allegation made to the ombudsman by Sinn Féin Assembly member Conor Murphy.

However, she agreed the scale and manner in which the search was carried out at Stormont was disproportionate and unnecessary to the circumstances.

The ombudsman also rejected a complaint about the refusal of police officers to allow two members of Sinn Féin to enter their office.

The report also dismissed a claim from a Sinn Féin party worker that officers had assaulted him, repeatedly slamming a door on his leg and causing him to spill hot tea over himself.

Nor did the ombudsman find evidence to support a complaint from a female member of staff that officers grabbed her by the arm and restrained her.

Sinn Féin Assembly Group leader Conor Murphy claimed the report failed to tell the truth about the purpose of the raid.