RUC try to recruit Downpatrick man
Phoblacht has learned of yet another attempt by the RUC to
recruit informers in the Downpatrick area. Dean Maghers (19) was
forced to meet members of the RUC following a charge of
possession of cannabis last December.
After he was charged at Grove RUC station he was told that the
charges would be dropped if he agreed to meet RUC plainclothes
detectives. Three days later he was picked up and taken to
Downpatrick racecourse where he met two RUC men, one of whom
introduced himself as Jim. Maghers was quizzed about break-ins,
car thefts and drug deals. He was asked to compile a list of
known drug dealers and promised 10% commission of the value of
any stolen goods he helped recover.
At his second meeting, which took place outside Downpatrick, he
was given the codename Brian Gray. He was instructed to involve
himself in break-ins and help frame `other hoods'. At this and
subsequent meetings he was given cigarettes and money.
In an attempt to escape the grip of his RUC handlers, Maghers
moved to Armagh and then to London. By this point he was
suicidal. ``I didn't know where to turn'' Maghers said, ``I moved to
Armagh for a few weeks. I then came back and stayed indoors as
much as possible. But the cops knew I was back''. Maghers told An
Phoblacht that the RUC rang the house a number of times and asked
for Brian Gray''. ``I was panicking,'' he said, ``I felt I'd have to
kill myself. Then I thought if I went to London and got work
there I'd be away from them''.
The move to London proved little respite. Maghers couldn't get
employment and spent weeks living rough on the streets before
returning home.
On his return he was again approached by his handler, Jim. He was
taken to another secret meeting but this time quizzed about his
family connection with Sinn Fein. He was asked to supply lists of
all he knew to be in Sinn Fein. He was instructed to join Sinn
Fein with a view to finding out more information about local
republicans. He was told he would be supplied with a mobile phone
and that he would eventually be fixed up with a new home and
employment abroad.
Maghers moved to Ardglass for a few weeks in the vain hope that
the RUC interest in him would wane. On his return to Downpatrick
he was again approached by his handler and taken to meet an RUC
inspector called Lusty, who he was told was from the Special
Branch. At this meeting he was questioned about his family. He
was given a telephone number and threatened with arrest if he
failed to ring in within a few weeks.
After his meeting Maghers told his parents about his involvement
with the RUC and his attempts to disengage from them. His parents
immediately contacted a solicitor who filed a detailed complaint
on Magher's behalf. He has since received a letter from the
Police Complaints Commission but continues to receive harassment
from the local RUC.
Sinn Fein councillor Paddy McGreevy called on anyone caught in a
similar situation to come forward and ``break the connection with
the RUC. It is clear the RUC are pressurising young people to
work as informers, they need to come forward to protect
themselves''.
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