Soldiers questioned about NI security breach

British soldiers have been questioned about the theft of a missing intelligence dossier of terrorist suspects, it emerged tonight.

The British army’s Special Investigations Branch (SIB) have interviewed 28 members of the Royal Irish Regiment who were withdrawn from duty at a high-security policing complex in Belfast where the document went missing.

It is understood that at least eight of the soldiers are to face further questioning by the British army’s investigations team, sources said.

A source told PA News: “These are the people who seem to be under the greatest suspicion.”

The new details emerged as Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen met with Sinn Féin’s policing spokesman Gerry Kelly to discuss the security breach at the Castlereagh complex in east Belfast.

Mr Kelly has angrily accused the Government of suppressing details of the theft of the document, which it has been claimed contains the details of up to 400 paramilitary suspects.

“They have sought to cover up what is rapidly becoming a major collusion scandal,” he added.

Police launched an inquiry into a possible breach of security at the Castlereagh complex earlier this month.

One man, believed to be a Royal Irish Regiment soldier, was released without charge after being questioned.

Northern Ireland Office Minister Ian Pearson yesterday confirmed that the police were investigating the disappearance of a document.

Security chiefs claimed they were almost 100% certain that the document has not fallen into the hands of loyalist paramilitaries.

“Either someone has got it and isn’t giving it up or they have shredded it because they don’t want to get caught.”

The British Army has refused to confirm or deny whether the SIB has been drafted in to help the police inquiry.

The members of the Royal Irish Regiment, whose duties included manning observation posts in nationalist areas, have been transferred to Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down.

A British army spokesman said: “The (British) army regards any breach of internal security with the utmost concern and has been co-operating fully with the PSNI in its ongoing investigation at the Castlereagh complex.”