More Evidence of Political Smears Against RNU

international | crime and justice | news report Friday March 12, 2010 23:50 by Mairtin Og Meehan - Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

Informer Smears

A letter sent to a number of Belfast Journalists/Newspapers containing serious allegations against myself and two other Belfast Republicans including, Tony (TC) Catney is printed in full below so that fellow Republicans can read for themselves the level of smears against RNU members of late.

I'm disgusted and deeply hurt by the letter and challenge anyone to produce any evidence they have! I also publically challenge the Author of the letter to show publically anything of an evidenial nature such as, times, dates, places and moneys paid by the RUC. So I and my two comrades can properly challenge these scurrilious allegations.

Until then, I'll make no further comment about these slurs apart from an article being printed in tommorrow's Irish News.

The letter containing the allegations appears in full below;

“As a former Special Branch Officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary I cannot remain silent any longer. I gave long years of loyal service. I lost good friends and colleagues, for what?

On an almost daily basis the threat from so-called dissidents s being brought to the fore. On Monday night, February 22, more by luck than by intent, another murderous attack on the scale of Omagh was averted. I believe this attack could have been stopped. Dedicated police officers continue to be sacrificed for political expediency. Colleagues of mine are being harassed and arrested under the new politically correct dispensation, yet those who murder and threaten are protected and financially rewarded from the public purse.

We fought a tough war against the terrorists, who would stop at nothing to undermine democracy, what was it all for? Our senior officers, who instructed us at every step, have been well rewarded and honoured, whereas we face a future of uncertainty and fear.

I t is suggested that Omagh could have been prevented. I believe that the murders of Constable CVarroll and the two young Sappers could have been prevented. I also believe that the asttempted murder and maiming of Constable Heffron could have been stopped. I have been told that Tony Catney (“Deirdre” (20/764), a leading dissident, began to target Police Officers in 2006 to build his dissident credibility. Now we have threee dead, yet Catney is one of ours. I know that he was recently interviews in relation to the murders of the two Sappers and yet he was released “unconditionally”.

The public faces of the dissidents, Catney __________, and ___________ “Davy Kane”) are ours. Longstanding Agents like “Deirdre” and “Davy Kane” should not be allowed to decide who lives and who dies in order that they are protected. The price is too high. The lessons of Operation Pummell (500lb bomb intercepted, bombers arrested, agent protected) seem to have been forgotten.

It is on both sides. The public should know that the dissidents on both sides are controlled, yet they are still allowed to murder.

________, the commander of the Orange volunteers is a CHIS(Covert Human Intelligence Source). He was given thousands of pounds. ________ (20/1943/0 LVF, murdered Elizabeth O Neill while he worked with us. This has all been sanctioned from the top. These longstanding agents like “Mr Tinsley” (20/2022) were given the power over life and death. I can no longer justify this.

I served in Special Branch. I know what I am talking about. Why am I writing to you? Because someone needs to ask the questions. The protection of agents seems to outweigh the protection of the public. This cannot be allowed to continue.’