SF plays down naming of spy

Sinn Féin has played down the significance of the naming of another party worker as a British spy.

Sinn Féin has played down the significance of the naming of another party worker as a British spy.

Following party leader Gerry Adams's warning of more revelations emanating from "dissidents" in the police and British state apparatus opposed to the peace process, a Fermanagh party supporter was identified as a police informer.

Seán Lavelle, who is from Donagh in Lisnaskea, confessed to being a Special Branch agent since 1980 in a statement issued through his solicitor.

It is understood he became a source for the former RUC Special Branch following his arrest in 1980 and is no longer a Sinn Féin member.

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Sinn Féin Assembly member Tom O'Reilly said Mr Lavelle was safe and living at home.

"He is still living in Donagh," he said. "He is safe. There is nothing untoward with the man."

In his statement, Mr Lavelle said: "I deeply regret my activities and the hurt which they have caused to my family and to my community."

Sinn Féin played down Mr Lavelle's importance, claiming he had been an election worker but was no longer a party member.

The naming follows the identification last month of Denis Donaldson, a former head of Sinn Féin's Stormont office, as a British agent.

Mr Donaldson (55) was arrested by police in October 2002, along with his son-in-law Ciarán Kearney and civil servant William Mackessy, on accusations that they operated a spy ring at Stormont.

The arrests led to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and powersharing executive within days.

After a three-year legal battle, charges against the three men were dropped at Belfast Crown Court last month, with the Public Prosecution Service insisting it was no longer in the public interest to pursue the case.

On Wednesday, Mr Adams predicted further revelations.

"You are going to get more alleged agents or real agents being trotted out in the time ahead," he said after a meeting with a bipartisan US Congressional team in Belfast.

"You are going to get more efforts by dissident elements within the British system to stop progress," he said.

"You are going to get this seized upon by the DUP and others who are afraid of a future based on equality. What we have to be is tenacious, resilient and patient about moving all of this forward," the Sinn Féin president added.