LVF linked to hospital spy

A patient who discovered his medical files may have been leaked by a hospital worker to unionist paramilitaries has said he is “disgusted” at the hospital’s handling of the case.

Confidential information concerning 10 patients at Craigavon area hospital is reported to have been passed on to the LVF by a woman employee, who was sacked last year.

It is understood that the medical files contained details about patients who had been attacked by the LVF.

One of the those affected said he only became aware of the case following an article on a chatroom website.

He contacted the hospital and learned that two files relating to himself and his son may have been illegally accessed by the former woman employee.

He has taken legal action on the grounds that his personal security and privacy were breached.

“I was disgusted with the hospital to be honest as I thought they would have got in touch with me to tell me what had happened,” he said.

“Instead I had to get a solicitor and go to them myself when all sorts of rumours started flying around the town.”

Meanwhile, tensions between rival loyalist factions are said to be at an all time high following a spate of attacks on homes and property in County Antrim.

Mediation between the mainstream UDA and the breakaway south east Antrim brigade has all but broken down after the use of an intermediary failed to bring an end to the tensions.

In Carrickfergus and nearby Greenisland, paint and brick attacks have been described as part of an orchestrated campaign of “political cleansing” by the breakaway gang

“What we are seeing here is sustained attacks on the Protestant community by those who wish to drive out anyone whose political outlook differs from their own,” said Frankie Gallagher of the UPRG, which represents the mainstream UDA.

* There has also been a number of attacks on Catholic-owned homes and vehicles in north Belfast on Saturday.

Windows in six houses and at least five vehicles were smashed on Serpentine Road and Serpentine Gardens in a sectarian attack. It follows a similar incident in recent weeks.

Urgent Appeal