SF continues 'bugging device' auction
Sinn Féin continued the auction today of part of a bugging device which it claims MI5 planted in its Belfast headquarters – despite it being thrown off eBay.
The auction was halted last night with bids at just over $1,000 (€796) because it contravened the website’s rules, said eBay.
But Sinn Féin general secretary Mitchel McLaughlin branded the move “a clumsy attempt at censorship” and suggested it may have been ordered by MI5.
The device was first put on display by Sinn Féin last September after they said they found it under the floor of a meeting room in their HQ at Connelly House in Andersonstown, just before the party went to Leeds Castle in Kent for crunch talks with the British government and other local parties.
They claim MI5 boss Eliza Manningham-Butler had confirmed to them her organisation had been behind the spying operation.
The auction was launched to cause embarrassment to the British agencies, said Mr McLaughlin.
eBay said it had been halted “because it contravened clauses 6.2 and nine of the eBay users agreement”.
Mr McLaughlin said: “Many people believe that the removal of the auction came about as a result of the efforts of the same shadowy individuals who were responsible for putting this bugging device in Sinn Féin’s offices in the first place.”
He added that despite “this clumsy effort at censorship the auction will continue”.
People could now place bids on the website of the Sinn Féin bookshop.
After being put back on the market bidding moved on swiftly to $2,200 (€1,745).
