Sinn Fein accuses Government of bugging
Sinn Fein has accused the British government of planting a bugging device in one of its Belfast offices.
It is the second time in as many weeks that the Northern Irish party has produced what it claims is evidence of continued bugging by Downing Street.
Last week the party claimed that listening devices had been found at the house of a member of staff of party president Gerry Adams.
And today it has followed up that accusation by suggesting that the British government also planted a bug in its Connolly House offices in Andersonstown, west Belfast.
Sinn Fein said the device was uncovered during building work.
Mr Adams has reacted strongly to the latest find, which comes as all the major political parties are due to meet for talks, stating that it proves the “hypocrisy” of the British government.
“It highlights the continuing hypocrisy of a British system which uses its enormous resources to ‘spy’ on its political opponents,” Mr Adams said.
“It is also evidence of the ‘war mentality’ among the securocrats who run the NIO and whose only engagement with the peace process is to subvert and undermine it.
“The question of course is who authorised this and how many more of these exist.”
In a statement, Mr Adams said: “The device was constructed so that it could listen to conversations upstairs and in the conference room downstairs.
“While Republicans always work on the presumption that these devices exist, the use of this very sophisticated bug is a very serious act of bad faith by the British government.
“Our delegation is bringing this device to Leeds Castle to Mr Blair and to seek an explanation from him.
“I have spoken today to Downing Street and to the Taoiseach’s department. I expect the Taoiseach to make strong representations to the British Prime minister.”
The Government traditionally refuses to comment publicly on any such allegations.
The major political groups involved with Northern Ireland are due to meet at Leeds Castle in Kent this week in an effort to come up with a way to restart the stalled peace process and resume devolution in the region.
