New IRA Arrests
Accused duo claim mole used entrapment and sabotage tactics (Belfast Telegraph)
A new photograph of an alleged
MI5 agent has been broadcast for the first time, showing him acting undercover. Dennie McFadden.
Credit Channel 4
Channel 4 News has been
investigating the role of alleged agent Dennis McFadden in Operation Arbacia, a
major police and MI5 surveillance investigation that has led to a raft of
terror charges in Northern Ireland.
Some of those facing charges
are alleged to be in the leadership of the New IRA.
Friends and the lawyer of one
of the defendants, Scottish Palestinian GP Dr Issam Bassalat (62) from
Edinburgh, told the news programme last night that he was “entrapped” by an MI5
agent.
Gavin Booth from Belfast based
Phoenix Law said: “Dr Bassalat was clearly pestered by who we now believe was
an MI5 private agent.”
Mr Booth claims his client was
“lured” from Scotland to Belfast by the MI5 agent, and believed that he was
giving a public talk on Palestine.
Dr Bassalat is accused of
addressing a meeting of the New IRA at a safehouse in Co Tyrone.
His lawyer told Channel 4 News
he has seen transcripts of the recordings made at an alleged meeting of the New
IRA and that “everything that’s contained within the transcripts and the
recordings is about Palestine, is about peaceful and democratic change. There’s
nothing in the transcripts from Dr Bassalat that would support violence in any
way”.
Dr Bassalat is expected to
face a non-jury trial, alongside nine other defendants accused of being members
of the New IRA.
On Wednesday night Mr McFadden
was shown on television at the home of Brendan McConville (42) in 2013,
apparently attending a briefing between McConville’s lawyer and his family.
McConville was one of two people
convicted of murdering police officer Stephen Carroll in 2009. He
unsuccessfully appealed the verdict four years later.
Mr McFadden had presented
himself to the McConville family as a campaigner against miscarriages of
justice and was a director of the campaign group Justice Watch Ireland.
McConville and his family
claimed Dennis McFadden infiltrated their own campaign — known as Justice for
the Craigavon Two — and as a result the conviction should be rendered unsafe.
Speaking on the phone from
Maghaberry Prison, McConville told Channel 4 News: “I believe he sabotaged my
appeal. I felt that he had a real genuine concern on justice. Little did I know
that it was the hand of MI5.”
The McConville family also
claim the MI5 man took control of their social media campaign and refused to
give them the passwords.
Following the unveiling in
court of McFadden as an alleged MI5 agent, McConville’s lawyers have now
submitted a file to the Criminal Cases Review Commission calling for a fresh
appeal in a bid for the conviction to be deemed unsafe.
A Government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings”
New IRA Arrests? Background
In recent months The New IRA, Continuity IRA and The PIRA
have been particularly active in the border region. The Centenary Celebrations
in Northern Ireland in 2021 have become a particular focus, with all groups
opposed to the creation of Northern Ireland.
It is also known that Sinn Fein/PIRA are seeking a distraction
as many within their ranks are concerned that a split is emerging following
comments by long serving Sinn Fein/PIRA member Francie Molloy.
In 2011 a number of groups including The Real IRA and PIRA
came together in a plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Dublin
in that year, the plan was thwarted when An Garda Siochana intercepted an
explosive device in Dorset Street.
Up Date 25/8/2020
Update 24/8/2020
Up Date 23/8/2020
Up Date 23/8/2020
Up Date 22/8/2020
Up-Date 22/8/2020
Initial Arrests
Police have arrested suspected members of the New IRA’s so-called army council in early morning raids across Northern Ireland.
A 62-year-old man living in
Scotland has become the 10th person to be charged in the MI5/PSNI operation
against the New IRA. He will appear at
Laganside Court on Tuesday.
A Palestinian man was being
questioned in Belfast last night as part of a major MI5 surveillance operation
stretching from Co Tyrone to Scotland.
The 62-year-old was arrested
at Heathrow Airport on Saturday and flown to Belfast later that day.
It is understood that although
originally from Palestine, he had been living in Edinburgh in recent years.
A property in the city was
searched as part of the operation on Saturday.
Police were yesterday given a
further 36 hours to question the man.
The Irish Observer understands
that as part of the surveillance operation, MI5 bugged two properties in Co
Tyrone and also recorded conversations held in Scotland.
The Palestinian man was
arrested as part of Operation Arbacia, which is investigating the activities of
the 'IRA', often referred to as the 'New IRA'.
It is understood he was known
to Dennis McFadden, who is originally from Scotland and is now suspected of
being an agent at the centre of the operation.
No-one has been able to
contact him since nine people - seven men and two women - were arrested in
Derry, Tyrone and Armagh last week.
It has emerged the
surveillance operation involved the bugging of two meetings in Co Tyrone
earlier this year.
It is understood they took
place at separate locations and that both audio and video evidence has been
gathered.
It has been alleged that the
Palestinian national was in attendance at one of the meetings.
He has previously addressed an
Ard Fheis of republican party Saoradh.
It is alleged that the chief
of staff and chairman of the 'IRA' addressed members of the organisation's executive
at both Co Tyrone meetings.
A solicitor representing one
of those arrested has said around 500 PSNI officers were involved in the
operation, which has secured 36 hours of recordings.
On Wednesday police were
granted an extra 72 hours to question the original nine arrested, who range in
age from 26 to 50.
Two men, Shea Reynolds from
Lurgan and Paddy McDaid from Derry, appeared in court on Saturday charged with
a range of offences including directing terrorism.
Those who remain in custody
include Co Tyrone men Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien McLaughlin, David Jordan and
his wife Sharon Jordan, Derry men Joe Barr and Gary Hayden along with Lurgan
woman and Saoradh vice-chair Mandy Duffy.
The two women along with the
Derry men and Damien McLaughlin are due to appear in court in Belfast today.
Meanwhile, a sixth person was
charged late last night with terrorism offences. Officers charged a 49-year-old
man from Dungannon with membership of a proscribed organisation, directing
terrorism and two separate charges of preparatory acts of terrorism.
Police were granted an extra
36 hours to continue questioning two remaining on Saturday.
Properties in Dublin, Laois,
Cork and Kerry were also searched by gardaí as part of the cross-border
operation.
It is understood that others
are also still wanted in connection with the investigation.
Up Date 23/8/2020
THE use of MI5 in covert
surveillance to snare dissident republicans is not a new tactic.
Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien
McLaughlin, Mandy Duffy, Davy Jordan, Sharon Jordan, Shea Reynolds, Gary
Hayden, Joe Barr, Paddy McDaid.
Dennis McFadden alleged MI5 Agent
Earlier this year seven men
pleaded guilty to charges arising out of a bugging operation against the
Continuity IRA in Newry that had taken place in 2014.
A number of other senior
republicans linked to the New IRA are currently also before the courts as a
result of allegations linked to MI5 surveillance.
As the technology and
techniques used by intelligence agencies become more sophisticated you would
imagine that those who know they are in the sights of the spooks would also up
their game.
However, up to nine people now
could be charged with a number of serious offences linked to the so-called New
IRA.
The bugging used to make a
case against the group is believed to be of the highest standard, recordings
crystal clear, cameras planted all over two 'safe houses', linked to a man
alleged to be a double agent but trusted by the suspects.
That man, not originally from
Northern Ireland, has since left his Belfast home but was often seen in the
company of senior republicans.
It seems that the MI5, PSNI
and An Garda Síochána are seeking to neutralise the New IRA.
Those currently arrested range
in age between 26-50 and are widely considered to be the most politically
active dissident republicans in the north.
They include well-known names
and faces.
Kevin Barry Murphy from
Coalisland, once described in court as the leader of the Real IRA in east
Tyrone.
Damien McLaughlin, also from
Tyrone, who was cleared in 2018 of charges linked to the murder of prison
officer David Black.
Co Armagh woman Mandy Duffy, a
chairperson of the New IRA's political wing Saoradh, and a sister in law of
veteran republican Colin Duffy.
David Jordan, sentenced to
seven years in 2010 for dissident activity in the Republic. He was previously
named as a person of interest regarding the 2009 attack at Massereene army
barracks in which two soldiers were murdered.
His wife Sharon Jordan,
formerly Rafferty, who was one of a gang of four jailed in 2014 for a string of
offences including the setting up of a training camp at Formil Wood near Omagh,
Co Tyrone.
Shea Reynolds, from Lurgan,
the youngest of the nine, was previously charged with being part of a terror
plot targeting a retired PSNI officer.
Gary Hayden from Derry, who
was convicted last year of taking part in an illegal parade organised by
Saoradh in the Creggan estate in 2018.
Saoradh Derry chairman Joe
Barr, also convicted of taking part in the 2018 parade.
Paddy McDaid from Derry, who
in 2013 he was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence after he was found
guilty of managing a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation.
Charged are expected to be
brought over the weekend on the back of the evidence collected during two
separate covert operations by MI5.
If found guilty those involved
face lengthy prison sentences, a blow to the New IRA and a massive coup for the
intelligence services.
Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien
McLaughlin, Mandy Duffy, Davy Jordan, Sharon Jordan, Shea Reynolds, Gary
Hayden, Joe Barr, Paddy McDaid.
Up Date 23/8/2020
The New IRA was told two years
ago that the suspected informant who is now accused of setting up senior
dissident republicans for arrest at bugged safe houses was in the pay of the
security services.
They dismissed these claims
because the individual, who fled his home last week prior to a series of
high-profile arrests, was close to leading west Belfast republican Tony 'TC'
Catney.
The convicted killer and
former Provo life sentence prisoner, who died from cancer in 2014, helped form
the New IRA.
Up Date 22/8/2020
A major surveillance operation
targeting the 'IRA' involved the bugging of two meetings earlier this year.
It is understood the meetings
were held at separate locations in Co Tyrone and that both audio and video
evidence has been gathered.
Ciarán Shiels, of Madden and
Finucane Solicitors, who represents one of those arrested last night said it is
alleged that the Chief of Staff and chairman of the 'IRA', which is sometimes
referred to as the New IRA, addressed members of the organisation's executive
at both meetings.
Mr Shiels said that around 500
PSNI officers were involved in the operation which has secured 36 hours of
recordings.
The solicitor added that an
emerging issue centres on the possible activity of a British agent
The seven men and two women
were arrested in early morning raids in Derry, Tyrone and Armagh on Tuesday as
part of operation police have called Arbacia.
On Wednesday police were
granted and extra 72 hours to questions the nine, who range in age from 26 to
50.
Properties in Dublin, Laois
Cork and Kerry were also searched by gardai as part of the cross-border
operation.
The Irish News understands
that others are wanted in connection with the investigation.
Four offices across the north
used by hardline republican party Saoradh were also raided by the police on
Thursday.
Some of those arrested are
members of the party's national executive.
Police on both sides of the
border have said the arrests and searches are linked to an investigation
focusing on the activities of the New IRA.
The Irish News understands the
first meeting, at a rented property between Cookstown and Omagh, took place in
February.
Sophisticated cameras and
listening devices are believed to have been located throughout the building.
A second meeting is understood
to have taken place at a property in the Gortin area last month.
Again, it is understood
conversations between those attending were recorded.
Meanwhile, it is understood
that a west Belfast man who may have had a role in arranging the meetings has
not been seen since the middle of this week.
Sources say that the contents
of his home were packed into a removal van on Wednesday and that friends and
acquaintances have been unable to contact him.
Mr Shiels said: “An issue that
is emerging is the possible activity of a British agent provocateur in
connection with the arrangement, facilitation and logistical support for both
meetings and entrapment of the individuals said to have attended,” he said.
The ‘IRA' is the largest and
most active of the armed groups opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.
It was formed in 2012 after a
merger between the now defunct Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs and a
group of independent republicans.
Up-Date 22/8/2020
Two men have been charged under the Terrorism Act as part
of an ongoing investigation into the New IRA.
A 50-year-old from Londonderry and a 26-year-old from
Lurgan were charged with membership of a proscribed organisation, directing
terrorism and preparatory acts of terrorism.
The 26-year-old was also charged with conspiracy to possess
explosives and conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life.
They will appear in court on Saturday.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said the men
had been charged as part of Operation Arbacia, which is "an ongoing
investigation into the activities of the New IRA".
Seven men and two women, aged between 26 and 50, were
arrested on Tuesday.
Police have until Saturday afternoon to question the seven
other people who remain in custody.
The New IRA is considered to be the largest dissident
republican group and has been behind numerous attempted attacks on police
officers.
There has been a renewed focus on its activities since the
death of Lyra McKee, shot in 2019.
Initial Arrests
Police have arrested suspected members of the New IRA’s so-called army council in early morning raids across Northern Ireland.
Eight men, all believed to be the paramilitary
organisation’s highest-ranking members are in custody in Belfast.
A source said: “This was a detailed operation that included
areas of Londonderry, east Tyrone and beyond plus the border regions and as far
as Cork and Kerry where Gardai colleagues conducted a simultaneous operation in
support of PSNI intelligence.
“This was a massive crackdown on dissident and dissident
activity. The volume of arrests and searches could be described as significant.
“At least eight people were taken into custody in Northern
Ireland by separate arrest teams and each is now under arrest.
“This has been a significant operation for the intelligence,
arrest and support teams in the ongoing fight against dissident republican
terrorism. Charges are expected to follow. It has been a good day for Northern
Ireland so far.”
A PSNI statement said: “Officers from the Police Service of
Northern Ireland have made a number of arrests under the Terrorism Act across
Northern Ireland today in connection with an ongoing
investigation into the activities of the New IRA.”
Gardai conducted six searches in counties Cork, Dublin,
Kerry and Laois in support of the PSNI operation.
No arrests were made in Ireland during planned and detailed
searches of several properties in four counties. The Gardai’s operation has
been described as ‘successful and ongoing’.
A statement said: “An Garda Síochána are this morning, 18th
August 2020, carrying out a number of searches in support of an operation led
by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
“The searches in this jurisdiction are being carried out at
locations in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry and are part of ongoing operations
to combat the activities of the New IRA.
“The searches are being conducted by members of the Special
Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí and Regional Armed Support Units.
“The searches are being conducted by members of the Special
Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí and Regional Armed Support Units.”
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