'Statement' from McGartland leads to probe into PSNI

BY LIAM CLARKE 22 February 2012 Belfast Telegraph THE Police Ombudsman has launched a criminal investigation into claims that police fabricated a statement from Martin McGartland, the former RUC Special Branch informant. The statement, which PSNI officers claimed to have taken from him in August 2008, was one factor which resulted in a decision not to prosecute a man who he accused of abducting him. The DPP has now referred the matter to the Ombudsman and the Chief Constable has referred other matters relating to Mr McGartland's abduction. Mr McGartland wrote in his book Dead Man Walking that in 1991 he was lured to a meeting in Connolly House, Sinn Fein's main offices, where a man he names as Jim McCarthy told him: "IRA. You're under arrest". He was then taken to a flat in Twinbrook where he was bound and held at gunpoint. He eventually escaped by jumping from a third-floor toilet window. Mr McCarthy (54) has always denied involvement. During the DPP's investigation it emerged that fingerprints taken in the flat had been lost and that there was no record of Mr McGartland being in the flat or treated in hospital afterwards. However he was able to supply ambulance records. Two PSNI officers visited him in England in 2008 and interviewed him, taking handwritten notes. He states: "They said they would return to get a statement but they never gave me anything to sign." Mr McGartland alleges that his police handlers had 24 hours notice of his abduction and had arranged surveillance. This was confirmed by Ian Phoenix, head of close quarter surveillance in the RUC at the time.

"I suspect the surveillance records may have been used to pressurise those involved into supplying information to avoid charges," McGartland said last night. Mr McCarthy is a former republican prisoner who has acted as driver for Gerry Adams and was prominent in the restorative justice movement. In March 2008, months before the disputed statement, Mr McCarthy said police had warned him he was suspected of being an informer. Sinn Fein stated at the time that it "was happy to let Jim know that there was no evidence that he was to be outed as an informer". The DPP referred the case to the Ombudsman last week. A spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that the Director of Public Prosecutions, under section 55 (4A) of the Police Northern Ireland Act 1998 referred to the police Ombudsman allegations made by Mr McGartland in relation to a witness statement dated August 2008." An Ombudsman's spokesman confirmed "the Public Prosecution Service has referred to the Police Ombudsman's Office a case involving the alleged falsification of a statement. An investigation has been launched and is currently in its early stages. "A number of additional issues have since been raised with the office, and these will be considered as part of our enquiries. "The investigation is considering potential criminal and misconduct issues." He added: "We have also received a separate referral from the Chief Constable relating to the circumstances surrounding the abduction of a man in 1991," and that this case was awaiting investigation. STORY SO FAR Martin McGartland is a west Belfast man who infiltrated the IRA as a police agent. His cover was blown after he gave information about a planned bombing of soldiers in Bangor. He was abducted but escaped his captors by jumping from a third floor window. He was given a new name. He was tracked down and shot in 1999. He now lives under another identity.