22 October 1998 Edition
Informer recruitment attempts
Sinn Fein councillor Sean McGirr has condemned the recent attempts by the RUC to recruit three nationalists from Armagh as informers as ``unacceptable''.
McGirr said, ``two of the incidents took place inside Armagh RUC barracks when two local people were told that driving charges against them could be dropped in return for information on local Republicans. One young man who was only seventeen was particularly distressed by the incident.''
``A more sinister recruitment attempt,'' added McGirr, ``occurred in the local leisure centre. A Sinn Fein member was approached by two plain clothed RUC men, who identified themselves and called the man by his first name. The man shouted out to nearby staff and the RUC men then speedily left the building.''
Commending the individuals for coming forward and exposing this behaviour, McGirr said all three had made complaints to the RUC through their solicitors.
McGirr said, ``two of the incidents took place inside Armagh RUC barracks when two local people were told that driving charges against them could be dropped in return for information on local Republicans. One young man who was only seventeen was particularly distressed by the incident.''
``A more sinister recruitment attempt,'' added McGirr, ``occurred in the local leisure centre. A Sinn Fein member was approached by two plain clothed RUC men, who identified themselves and called the man by his first name. The man shouted out to nearby staff and the RUC men then speedily left the building.''
Commending the individuals for coming forward and exposing this behaviour, McGirr said all three had made complaints to the RUC through their solicitors.