British govt suspects Special Branch leak

The British government believes Special Branch police officers in the North are leaking stories about the IRA in an attempt to damage Sinn Féin’s prospects in the upcoming general election, according to reports today.

The Guardian newspaper quotes a senior source as saying: "Someone is leaking and it looks like Special Branch. It has got worse since [former chief constable] Ronnie Flanagan left. It appears this is being done to damage Sinn Féin in the elections in the south."