SF MP slams PSNI’s Assets Recovery Agency

Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy has launched an attack on the PSNI's Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), accusing it of unfairly implicating one of his constituents in criminal activity.

Yesterday, the ARA announced that it had conducted raids in Manchester as part of an investigation into a £30m (€43.6m) property empire.

Media reports quickly added that the raids were part of an investigation into leading south Armagh republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, the IRA's alleged chief-of-staff.

Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy insisted today that his constituent was being unfairly implicated in criminal activity.

He said the ARA's official media statement made no mention of any republicans, yet the agency appeared to be giving private briefings "to try and point the finger at different people".

Yesterday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams also questioned the integrity of the ARA, saying its assistant director, Alan McQuillan, was a former RUC Special Branch officer opposed to the peace process.