Police discover new IRA 'target list'

By Brian Rowan BBC Northern Ireland chief security correspondent

The police in Northern Ireland have been warning judges, politicians and loyalists that their details have been found on IRA intelligence files.

The information was found on a computer seized by the police in searches of republican areas after the break-in at the Castlereagh police complex.

Several weeks ago, detectives discovered a list of senior Conservative politicians on the same computer.

As their minute examination of the computer's memory disk went deeper, police experts found a list of more than 200 names covering the security forces, the judiciary, forensic scientists, politicians and loyalists.

Sources say the word "target" was typed against some names

Allegations of IRA involvement in the Castlereagh break-in and with Colombian guerillas - while it is supposed to be on ceasefire - have put enormous strains on the political process in Northern Ireland.

The disclosure of this apparently new IRA list is likely to prompt renewed calls by some unionists for an end to Sinn Fein's role in the power-sharing government at Stormont.

Security sources have described the latest find as highly significant.

The information was collected over a long period of time. Much of it is old but some material has been updated - the retirement date of one of Northern Ireland's most senior detectives was logged.

He only left the police service last year.

Republican prisoner

Sources say the word "target" was typed against some names.

The police have already warned many of those whose details have been found and are in the process of telling others.

Leader of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party David Ervine has confirmed that some loyalists have been contacted in recent days.

Mr Ervine said the discovery of more names on an IRA intelligence file was a worrying development, but not surprising.

Intelligence has saved many, many lives in Northern Ireland, including republican lives

Michael McGimpsey
Ulster Unionist minister

He said the find would add to the increasing credibility problems of paramilitary groups and that it was time republicans told people what they were up to.

A republican prisoner, who was released early under the Good Friday Agreement, is facing charges of having information likely to be useful to terrorists.

He was taken from Maghaberry jail and re-interviewed by detectives at Lisburn police station after the latest discovery of information.

A police spokesman said: "It is not our policy to discuss the personal security of any individual.

"However, we can confirm that as part of the ongoing investigation into the aggravated burglary at Castlereagh, a number of searches were carried out.

"Material seized continues to be examined, and where it has been identified that anyone may be at risk or under any form of threat, steps have been taken to inform them."

Undertakings and promises

Ulster Unionist minister Michael McGimpsey said: "Intelligence has saved many, many lives in Northern Ireland, including republican lives.

"This is another example of good intelligence coming to the fore."

He added: "The conclusion becomes inescapable - either (Sinn Fein president) Mr Adams and Mr (Martin) McGuinness are insincere when they talk about their movement going forward on purely peaceful means - or they have lost control of their movement.

"There are talks going that will hopefully advance the entire process.

"We are not making demands of Tony Blair, we are asking Tony Blair to live up to the undertakings and promises that he made some time ago."

Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew described the report as a "smokescreen"

Ms Gildernew said no one had anything to fear from republicans and the announcement was timed to take pressure off the security forces after allegations of collusion.