12 February 1998 Edition
Informer attempt
A Catholic man from Carnlough was the latest target of an RUC attempt to recruit informers. In a classic `approach' attempt the man was asked to supply information after he was arrested in the North Antrim town and taken to Ballymena RUC Barracks. There they tried to coerce him into giving information and mentioned the fact that he had been in jail before.
The RUC told him he ``could be looking at time'', as he was ``obviously a Republican'' because he has a Tiocfaidh ár Lá tattoo.
The man told the RUC, ``you better charge me,'' after they offered to drop the charges in return for any information he gave about local republicans.
The man contacted Sinn Fein's Catherine O'Hagan after the approach. She said the RUC's continuing policy of recruiting informers and targeting Republicans is ``extremely detrimental to the peace process in which they have yet to engage.''
The RUC told him he ``could be looking at time'', as he was ``obviously a Republican'' because he has a Tiocfaidh ár Lá tattoo.
The man told the RUC, ``you better charge me,'' after they offered to drop the charges in return for any information he gave about local republicans.
The man contacted Sinn Fein's Catherine O'Hagan after the approach. She said the RUC's continuing policy of recruiting informers and targeting Republicans is ``extremely detrimental to the peace process in which they have yet to engage.''