Informer accusations denied

A north Belfast republican has denied reports that he had spied on the IRA for the RUC Special Branch police.

North Belfast man Joseph Haughey was named on an American website at the weekend as an informant, by an anonymous individual under the name ‘Joan’.

But Mr Haughey last night denied he had ever been a security force agent.

“I deny categorically any suggestion that I was ever an informer or that I ever cooperated with British intelligence or the RUC,” he said.

He said the allegations against him originate from the British army agent who uses the pseudonym ‘Kevin Fulton’.

“This man has made totally untrue allegations against me which have caused untold distress to my family and friends.

“What is most galling is this man made unsubstantiated allegations ag- ainst myself and others yet he hides behind a pseudonym and a mask.”

Mr Haughey says he knows Kevin Fulton’s real identity as the two worked together at Euro Disney in the early 1990s.

“The sole reason Kevin Fulton has accused me of being an informer is because he has a personal vendetta against me.”

He said Sinn Féin had assured him one believed Kevin Fulton, who has since denied he was the source of the allegation.

“I am not and never have been an informer.”

Commenting on the allegations, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly accused British intelligence of being involved in a ‘dirty tricks’ campaign against republicans to destabilise the peace process.

“At every turn in the peace process (British intelligence) maliciously leak and brief misinformation to create crises and to bolster anti-agreement elements,” he said.

“People are asking who the next victim of British state intelligence briefings will be.”

Kelly made similar comments at the time of the allegations last year against west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who has accused of being the British ‘Steak-Knife’ spy.

Urgent Appeal