Special Branch Targets Scottish Republicans

22/01/12

Rúnaí ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith has expressed concern at attempts by police in Scotland to recruit informers in republican circles there.

Last week, a republican activist in the Glasgow area was approached by Special Branch officers and asked to provide information on fellow activists.

Sarah Boyle, a member of the Volunteers Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan Memorial Flute Band, was contacted by officers unknown to her and asked to attend her local police station.

Thinking the request was in relation to a recent road traffic incident she had been involved in, Boyle agreed to go to the station. However, on arrival, she was ushered into a room with two plain-clothes officers.

The officers immediately produced a file, which they told Boyle contained information they had been compiling on her and her legal republican activities for the last decade.

It was at this stage that the Special Branch officers asked Boyle to provide information on fellow republicans in the Glasgow area. She refused, rejected overtures about further contact with Special Branch and, on leaving the station, immediately contacted her legal representative.

Mac Cionnaith said: “The attempts by police Special Branch in Scotland to pressurize a young woman into becoming an informer are highly disturbing. The Volunteers Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan Memorial Flute Band is a completely open organization, which is involved in public events in both Ireland and Scotland.

“For its members to become subject to police harassment is indicative of the British state´s consistently hostile attitude towards Irish republicans.”

Mac Cionnaith added: “People have a right to become involved in republican organizations of a cultural and political nature, including the Black and Ryan Flute Band, whether they are based in Ireland, Scotland or elsewhere. If Special Branch thinks such crude attempts at intimidation will be successful, they are sorely mistaken.

“éirígí appeals to anyone who is pressurized by Special Branch or MI5 to provide information on republicans to immediately contact their solicitor or a representative of this party.

“For our part, we will continue to highlight the British state´s political policing and offer support to its targets.”