Case collapses in probe of notorious security base raid
The case against former chef and US resident Larry Zaitschek caused a crisis in the peace process after the raid was blamed on the IRA.
The case collapsed after police revealed they could not disclose new evidence uncovered over the raid, leaving any court case open to challenge and rendering a successful prosecution impossible.
Last night, Mr Zaitschek, 41, again denied involvement, claimed he was the victim of a political agenda and said he had mixed feelings over the collapse of the case which had hung over him for seven years.
“I feel relieved but at the same time,” he said, “I remain angered.”
The police said the new material did not come from its officers or British intelligence agencies, while separate sources claimed the information was held outside of Britain, but was not being made available to authorities in the North.
The Prosecution Service confirmed its belief that a prosecution was now impossible, but it nevertheless took the unusual step of claiming there was forensic evidence linking Mr Zaitschek’s car to the break-in.
The Troubles have raised many controversies, but the Castlereagh raid goes to the heart of the covert intelligence war that waged during the decades of violence.
Politicians yesterday alleged that an effort was under way to close the book on the notorious security breach, which is linked to the alleged IRA spy ring that collapsed the Stormont government in 2002, and to the 2006 murder of Sinn Féin member and security force agent Denis Donaldson.
The audacious St Patrick’s Day raid saw three intruders tie up a policeman who was guarding an office of secret files, before the gang escaped with documents on Special Branch officers and their agents inside paramilitary ranks.
Millions of pounds were spent rehousing officers and others whose security was compromised by the episode.
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