Republicans' details held by loyalist paramilitaries

A number of republicans in the North have been told their details are in the hands of unionist paramilitaries, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin's Daithi McKay said republicans in Derry city, South Derry and North Antrim were given the news during overnight visits by PSNI officers.

The PSNI confirmed a number of individuals are in the process of being provided with information by police.

"This forms part of an ongoing investigation into terrorist crime," said a spokeswoman.

"If we receive information and believe that someone should be made aware of that information we take steps to inform them."

The North Antrim Assembly member linked the visits to the court appearance of a Wrightbus employee yesterday, who was charged with various terror offences.

"Sinn Féin and the individuals concerned are obviously taking this matter seriously," said Mr Kay.

"It is unacceptable that unionist paramilitaries continue to target republicans in this manner, and the events of the past 24 hours clearly raise very serious issues for the wider unionist community."

Darren Leslie Richardson, 30, of Moneynick Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, was yesterday charged with being a Loyalist terrorist and accused of being a member of the outlawed Ulster Volunteer Force.

The factory manager at the major Northern Ireland bus builder - which last week won a multi million pound order from the Irish State bus company - was further charged with the possession of documents likely to be of use to terrorists and possession of a quantity of 9mm ammunition at the Wrightbus plant at Galgorm outside Ballymena, Co Antrim between a date unknown and April 11.

Two further arrests were made by the PSNI last night as part of an ongoing investigation into terrorist crime.

One arrest was made in Randalstown - where Mr Richardson lives - and the other in Belfast.