A television programme investigating British army infiltration into the IRA is likely to become the subject of a court battle after an injunction halted its broadcast last night.
Ulster Television's documentary series Insightwas scheduled to air at 10.20 p.m. last night but the station was told four hours before broadcast that the Ministry of Defence had got an injunction from the High Court in Belfast preventing the screening.
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The programme featured interviews with a soldier who claimed to have infiltrated the IRA, assisted in the killing of soldiers and policemen, and committed armed robberies, with the full knowledge of his handlers.
"We have been totally gagged and we will be fighting that. The legal process has already begun," said programme editor Mr Justin O’Brien.
Excerpts were broadcast on the UTV Liveprogramme just minutes before news of the injunction was received and evening papers had carried stories with details of the allegations in the programme.
According to the Belfast Telegraphthe soldier claims to have been involved with the IRA for over four years and to have served in the Royal Irish Regiment.
He is reported to have made bombs that killed members of the security forces in a situation that he described as beyond the control of himself or his handlers.
Ulster Television says it hopes to screen the programme next Tuesday.