RUC colluded in UVF bombing of Monaghan Sinn Féin office – agent

» Mark Moloney

'The agent said the attack was carried out by Mount Vernon UVF members Mark Haddock, John Bond and Darren Moore, all of whom were later to be unmasked as RUC Special Branch agents. The RUC failed to pass on the intelligence to the Garda'

DOCUMENTS newly published show that the RUC was aware its own agents within the UVF carried out a bomb attack against the Sinn Féin office in Monaghan town in March 1997 but failed to tell the Garda.

The attack occurred more than two years after the UVF declared a ceasefire and took place while Sinn Féin was still excluded from peace talks.

The device, containing 25 sticks of commercial powergel explosives, was placed outside the rear of the Sinn Féin office in Dublin Street on 3 March 1997. Only the detonator exploded and there were no injuries but the bomb contained enough explosives to wreck a large part of the town.

According to the RUC agent who spoke to the Sunday World, he "provided [the RUC Special Branch with] detailed information about a planned bombing raid on Sinn Féin offices in Monaghan town".

The agent said the attack was carried out by Mount Vernon UVF members Mark Haddock, John Bond and Darren Moore, all of whom were later to be unmasked as RUC Special Branch agents. The RUC failed to pass on the intelligence to the Garda.

Other 'source reports' received by RUC Special Branch in Belfast on 14 May 1997 show the UVF planned to plant 'no-warning' car bombs in the centre of Dublin with the aim of causing maximum civilian casualties if peace talks collapsed.

Again, the RUC did not pass on the intelligence to the Garda. The attacks did not materialise when  Haddock along with ten others, were arrested a few weeks later in relation to an attack on a Portadown pub linked to the rival LVF as part of a loyalist feud.

The agent further alleges that the RUC "were aware of plans to attack the pub and were prepared to let it go ahead as it was being carried out by paid agent Haddock and his crew. But an anonymous call was received warning police about the attack and they had no choice but to get involved."

Speaking to An Phoblacht at the time of the attack on the Sinn Féin office, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (then a councillor before being elected TD that June, the first Sinn Féin TD since the 1950s) said:

"The attempted bombing and the muted political reaction to it highlights once again the double standards of those most vociferous about political violence and the threat of violence.

"Where is the usual outpouring from all the predictable sources? The silence of Leinster House politicians in particular is worth noting. There is no clamour from any of them to condemn this attack."