Special Branch up to old tricks

Sinn Féin in Derry says the PSNI Special Branch kidnapped a man in an attempt to recruit him as an informer.

The incident came to light after the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted Sinn Féin. Councillor Barney O'Hagan told how the man was abducted after being stopped on Foyle Bridge in the early hours of Friday 23 January by uniformed members of the PSNI and his car was searched. Two Special Branch members, dressed in plain clothes, appeared at the scene and forcefully bundled him into the back of his car and drove him to a remote area in the grounds of Gransha Hospital, where they informed him that they were members of Special Branch.

"The young man said he was absolutely terrified during this period and that he was terrorised and intimidated by the two men," said O'Hagan.

The Creggan man said he was given a telephone number which he was told would be a one off, once it was used it would no longer exist.

The Sinn Féin councillor said the following day the young man contacted his solicitor.