Mackessy accused of copying papers

A former British government porter at the centre of a suspected IRA spy ring copied top security papers on Northern Ireland’s most senior army officer, a court heard today.

William Mackessy, 44, faces two charges of aiding terrorists while working at the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast.

He is the third person charged following the police raids on Sinn Fein’s offices at Stormont which have left the power sharing assembly on the point of collapse.

Mr Mackessy from Wolfend Way, Ligoniel, in the north of the city was moved from Castle buildings to another part of the civil service in September 2001 after he was discovered photocopying unauthorised documents.

Belfast Magistrates Court today heard he said 'No reply' when he was accused by detectives of making a record of details on members of Her Majesty’s Forces including the General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Lieut Gen Sir Alistair Irwin which could be useful to terrorists between April 1 2000 and October 4 2002.

He is also accused of having material that could be used by a terror organisation planning an act of violence between the same dates.

Questioned by a lawyer for the accused a detective inspector told the court that documents connected with the charges were not found in either Mackessy's home or workplace.

He also accepted that the evidence police had based their charges on was handwriting analysis rather than fingerprint or DNA samples.

The court heard that Mackessy was interviewed by his line manager on September 19 2001 about a security breach involving photocopying documents.

His explanation that he had been making copies of personal papers was accepted with no disciplinary action or arrest at the time.

But Mackessy, the police officer pointed out, was transferred to another building where he would not have access to the same type of material.

He added that the material at the centre of the police probe involved six pages of handwriting attributed to the defendant.

"These six pages were contained among a vast quantity of other material which appears to have been copied during the period of the defendant’s employment at the Northern Ireland Office at Stormont," the detective said.

"We cannot say he was responsible for making all these copies but we can say we can only restrict them to the period of his employment."

Mackessy was remanded in custody to appear again on October 15 via video link.

His lawyer pointed out he would strenuously defending the charges against him.

"His conviction is the evidence to date to connect him is handwriting analysis," she said.

A crowd of up to 100 Sinn Fein supporters staged a brief protest outside the court before Mackessy’s cases was heard.

Amid tight security several top republicans including the North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly were in court to hear the case.

Two others, including Sinn Fein’s head of administration at Stormont, Denis Donaldson, arrested during the police swoops on north and west Belfast last Friday have already been remanded after being charged with similar offences.