Dissident republicans attack Sinn Féin office

A Sinn Féin constituency office in the North has been attacked by dissident republican arsonists, it was revealed today.

Smoke and electrical damage was caused after petrol was poured through the front door in Derry and set alight, a party spokesman said.

The Real IRA is due to hold a ceremony in the city tomorrow claiming responsibility for murdering Sinn Féin former Stormont administration head and British spy Denis Donaldson in 2006.

The west Belfast man was shot dead in a remote Co Donegal cottage and his death rocked the peace process.

The arson incident happened overnight at the unit at Rathmore shopping centre in the Creggan after the vandals cut through metal shutters.

Derry Sinn Féin chairperson Paul Fleming said: "If those who carried out this attack think they were striking a blow for Irish freedom then they are deluding themselves.

"I can best describe them as no better than counter-insurgency groups that are heavily infiltrated and controlled by British intelligence services."

He said they destroyed pictures of former hunger striker Bobby Sands' election victory announcement, portraits of other hunger strikers and republican memorabilia.

Mr Fleming added: "It is becoming clearer after every action carried out by these enemies of the peace process that their main target is not British rule in Ireland but Sinn Féin's success in dismantling the influence of the British government in Irish affairs.

"Sinn Féin has a clear strategy to achieve Irish unity and it has been endorsed by increasing numbers of genuine republicans and nationalists in successive elections throughout Ireland. These impostors will not deter us from our agenda.

"This attack will not deter Sinn Féin from carrying out its constituency service and the centre will be open for business as usual after the Easter holiday."