PSNI intimidate SF rep

Police raids on the home of Sinn Féin's Michael Agnew and other nationalist homes in Ballymena have provoked an angry response from republicans.

Agnew's home was one of six houses searched by PSNI officers in dawn raids last Friday. The republican activist said there was nothing found to justify the searches.

"I was completely astonished when my house was raided at 4.30am on Friday morning, when I work hard to solve problems of anti-social behaviour, graffiti and drugs in the area," he said.

Agnew dismissed the accusations as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment toward nationalists in Ballymena.

Sinn Féin policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly said that Agnew has been the target of a sustained loyalist murder campaign.

"The actions of the PSNI this morning are part of a deliberate attempt to justify these attacks," he said. "It is in stark contrast to the lack of action against the unionist murder gangs that are operating with impunity throughout the North Antrim and East Antrim areas.

"This raid is a clear example of political policing. It is an extension of the loyalist murder campaign. It is a clear example of the operation of the policy of collusion between loyalists and the PSNI and will only offer further encouragement to those who have targeted Michael Agnew because he is a Sinn Fein representative."