SDLP concerned about IRA spying investigation

The SDLP has said it remains concerned about the continuing police investigation into alleged IRA spying in Stormont.

Party spokesman Alex Attwood said many questions about the inquiry remain unanswered and more information is needed to reassure the public that the police are not conducting searches and arresting people without good reason.

Sinn Fein has consistently claimed that the spying allegations are part of an agenda to undermine the peace process.

Yesterday, the police said they believe the arrest and charging of four people in early October was connected to last March's break-in at Castlereagh barracks in Belfast.

The four, two of whom have links with Sinn Fein, were charged with possession of documents likely to be of use to terrorists following a series of raids in republican areas of Belfast.

Some of these documents allegedly originated from the British government's offices in Stormont.

Alan McQuillan, the acting deputy chief constable for Belfast, said he believes the operation has broken up an IRA intelligence cell.