32 CSM condemns the harassment of a Derryman by MI5 in Spain

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Tuesday December 07, 2004 11:31

by Harry Boland - 32 County Sovereignty Movement

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The 32 CSM totally condemns the harassment of a Derryman by MI5 in Spain earlier this week. This man worked tirelessly with the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association ( http://32csm.netfirms.com/irpwa.html ) on behalf of Republican prisoners before going to Spain to work. He was approached by two armed MI5 agents in a bar in a small village in the mountains of Catalonia last Wednesday. They were backed-up by a further five armed agents. Their purpose was to try to get this man to work for them as an agent on his return to Derry.

The man had the good sense to tell them he wanted nothing to do with them and to then leave the bar. He has already contacted his family solicitor in Derry about the matter. We in 32 CSM would ask is it now the norm for armed British agents to operate with impunity in whichever country they choose contrary to International law and, despite having the most draconian laws ever, why do they find it necessary to try to recruit agent provocateurs to ensnare Republicans in Ireland. We have seen this in operation with the American David Rupert in Dublin and more recently in many cases in the Belfast courts where only the excellent work of dedicated lawyers ensured other Republicans were not sent to prison at the behest of British agents. It will be interesting to watch if any action is taken by either the Spanish Government over the violation of its territory or the Dublin government over the hounding of one of its citizens while abroad.