Republican News · Thursday 7 August 2003

McCartney targeted by securocrats

Two cars acting suspiciously in Derry's Fernabbey estate made off at speed when challenged by a Sinn Féin councillor and local residents.

Residents said they became aware of the blue Mondeo and silver Astra cars at around 9.30am on Friday 1 August.

Locals claimed the Astra had 'some sort of camera' fitted to it and was seen taking photographs of the homes in the estate one of which belong to leading Derry republican Raymond McCartney.

Sinn Féin councillor Tony Hassan told An Phoblacht that he arrived at the scene after he was informed by local residents and that he immediately went to the silver car to see what was going on. However, as Hassan approached the vehicle, it took off at speed.

Hassan followed the car as it headed towards the Madam's Bank Road at speed, overtaking other cars in the process. "I eventually lost it as the speed it was travelling at made it impossible to follow," he said.

Hassan described the events as "very sinister".

"If this is taken in the context of the recent break in at McCartney's home, one cannot help but wonder if there is some sort of security service involvement in this incident," he said.

Hassan contacted the DSS to inquire if they had any investigators in the area at the time. The DSS say they had no one in the area at the time, while the PSNI refused discuss the matter with him.