Belfast Lord Mayor says Special Branch raid "stinks"

Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers has claimed a number of files have been stolen during a raid on Special Branch offices in Castlereagh last night.

As Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan held urgent talks with senior officers, the Ulster Unionist councillor suggested whoever broke in must have had intimate knowledge of the station.

A lone officer was in the office at Castlereagh police station in the east of the city when several intruders got in last night.

He was attacked and after a struggle was tied up before the gang made their getaway.

‘‘The whole thing stinks to high heaven,’’ he said.

‘‘Not for one moment do I believe that either a republican or loyalist organisation has been responsible.

‘‘It’s someone who knows something about the workings of Castlereagh and the lay-out.’’

Mr Rodgers also drew comparisons with a mysterious fire at another Northern Ireland police station which destroyed files on alleged security force collusion with loyalist terrorists.

The blaze caused extensive damage to offices used by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Steven’s team during their ongoing probe.

‘‘People are going to ask deep and searching questions,’’ Mr Rodgers added.

Special Branch sources indicated it could be some time before the investigation confirmed if any documents had been taken.

Although he refused to comment on the break-in, one said: ‘‘Because of the forensic examination that’s going on we are not sure if anything has been stolen. It could take a couple of days.’’

A spokesman for Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan said she would not be getting involved in the probe.

He added: ‘‘We are watching it to see how it develops.’’