Orde briefs Taoiseach on Stormontgate developments

22/12/2005 - 13:09:38
PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde has briefed the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about the latest developments in the so-called Stormontgate scandal.

The two men met for around an hour at Government Buildings today less than a week after leading Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson admitted he had been a British spy since the 1980s.

Mr Donaldson was arrested by the PSNI following a high-profile raid on Sinn Féin's offices at Stormont that led directly to the collapse of the North's power-sharing institutions in October 2002.

He was later charged in connection with an alleged IRA spy ring within Stormont, but the charges against him and his two co-accused were dropped earlier this month.

Sinn Féin has responded to the latest developments by accusing the PSNI of engaging in a deliberate political campaign to collapse the North's institutions.

Mr Orde has denied the charge and has insisted that the IRA was operating a spy ring inside Stormont.

He claimed this was evident as documents stolen from Stormont were found in west Belfast during the investigation.

However, Sinn Féin has pointed out that the documents were found in Mr Donaldson's house and were therefore in the possession of a British agent, not the IRA.

In a statement released after today's meeting, a government spokesman said the Taoiseach viewed Mr Orde's visit as an indication of the seriousness of the matter.

However, he said the substance of the talks was confidential and it would not be appropriate to go into any detail.