PSNI Special Branch force man to act as informer

The PSNI police have been accused of abducting a young Derry man and forcing him to work as an informer for them.

The man told a Sinn Fein press conference in Derry yesterday that he was taken away by plain-clothed PSNI men and asked to become an informer.

The self-confessed petty criminal said the officers told him they would ``sort out'' any trouble he was in with the police in return for information.

The man, who is in his early twenties, said the incident took place at the Foyle Bridge more than a week ago.

He said he was first stopped by uniformed police. A short time later, two plain-clothed officers arrived. He was then forced into the back of his own car.

One PSNI man held him down, while the other drove the car to the grounds of Gransha hospital. There he was given a number and told to call them if they was prepared to work for them.

When the incident ended, the two men got into another car and drove away, leaving the man to drive home in his own vehicle.

The man said that his lawyer, Patrick McDermott, called the number and was asked if he wished to meet the men. When he identified himself, the person on the other end hung up.

Mr McDermott rang again but was told he had a wrong number. The third time he telephoned, the line went dead.

A spokesman for Sinn Fein said the incident showed that the RUC Special Branch was still active and had transferred to the PSNI.

He said the PSNI kidnapped the man in full view of uniformed officers in their efforts to force him to work for them.

``It shows the Special Branch are still working hand and glove with uniformed officers,'' he said.

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