MI5 linked to legacy police agency

Posted by Jim on December 20, 2016

A member of the Legacy Investigations Branch (LIB) of the PSNI police
in the north of Ireland has been accused of being a covert member of
British military intelligence.

In a statement, Saoradh said Neil McGuinness, a member of the unit which
take over from the Historical Enquiries team in recent years, had
attempted to recruit one of their members as an informer.

In 2014, Belfast Republican Dominic Corr and a friend were making their
way home to Belfast from Glasgow. As they made their way through the
airport, Dominic was accosted by two individuals who identified
themselves as British ‘Security Services’, and led him to a screening
room.

Once in the room, they made it known that they were aware of his
political outlook and his fundraising activities for the IRPWA while in
Scotland and stated that this wasn’t a “bad thing”.

“They were quite clearly intent on recruiting him, yet refused to say
who they really represented,” Saoradh said. “Dominic, being a long
standing republican, refused to engage and once it was clarified that he
wasn’t under arrest, demanded to be released from the locked room and
left. On return to Ireland, Dominic made the incident public by logging
the incident with his legal team,” adding: “One of the agents from
British intelligence that failed to recruit Dominic Corr was Neil
McGuinness.”

McGuinness is a prominent figure within the LIB, recently appearing in
the media in relation to the exhumation of British Army murder victim
Daniel Rooney. Although a unit of the PSNI, the LIB presents itself as
independent arbitrator for those seeking justice and closure regarding
state killings of their family members.

McGuinness’s alleged identification as an MI5 agent has been seen as
vindication of the belief that, rather than seeking to resolve past
killings, British forces continue to be engaged in a systematic cover-up
of their war crimes in Ireland

“Saoradh hereby call upon McGuinness to publicly confirm the various
roles he has played within the British Crown Forces – including any
overt or covert role within British intelligence,” they said.

Saoradh have initiated a Freedom of Information request in relation to
this issue

“The Crown Forces, namely the PSNI, MI5, and the British Army, are still
engaged in a campaign of counter insurgency in the north of Ireland, it
is therefore imperative for these forces that this current campaign is
not undermined by the revelation of their murderous past; hence this
exercise in white wash and micro management of the so called legacy
issues.”

They also backed calls for an Independent Investigatory Team, with full
access to British Government classified policy documents and evidence:
“Britain perpetuates the conflict in Ireland and any investigation
initiated or conducted by them will serve only Britain’s interests
rather than those of victims, families and communities affected by their
overt slaughter and continued covert activities in Ireland.”