Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has challenged the IRA to come clean about its involvement in the Castlereagh break-in of 2002, and to stop re-traumatising the victims of the Shankill bomb with speculation that the police could have prevented the atrocity.

Mr Nesbitt said:

“Republicans reacted to the break-in at Castlereagh Police Station with their usual single transferable speech of denial, but it is now clear as day that they were responsible, as they are boasting of breaking coded documents stolen from the station. It is also further proof, not that proof is necessary, that the IRA still exist in 2016.

“To now suggest the police sat on information that could have prevented the Shankill bombing is to further torture the victims and survivors of one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles. They are cruelly playing with the minds of people who have already suffered horrendously down the years. It is time for an end to the speculation. Put up or shut up.

“As Republicans are speculating, let me throw a suggestion into the mix. Castlereagh was all about the Northern Bank robbery. The IRA knew they were riddled with informants and stole the files to ensure no one compromised the biggest heist in British criminal history.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Irish Times 17 April 2002: “IRA not responsible for Castlereagh raid – Kelly”

A senior Sinn Féin politician has issued the most unambiguous and unequivocal republican statement to date that the IRA was not responsible for the Castlereagh break-in and that it does not have the information contained in the stolen confidential documents.

"I am absolutely satisfied that they are not involved," said Mr Kelly when asked if the IRA was responsible.

"I am absolutely convinced that what we are dealing with is a cover-up from the intelligence agencies.

"The only thing I can't point the finger at is which agency it is,"

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ira-not-responsible-for-castlereagh-raid-kelly-1.1085340