Terror Lord To Probe MI5 Death Claims

The peer who wrote Parliament's Independent Review of Terrorism Legislation is to probe the Security Service, MI5, over allegations of involvement in the death of a republican terrorist.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster this morning, Lord Carlisle said he is confident he will detect any attempt to withhold information about the murder of Real IRA man Kieran Doherty.

He will also meet Kieran Doherty's family on Monday, listen to them, speak to the security services and the report to the Secretary of State.

"I'm looking forward to a full briefing from them," he said. "It'll be for me to use my experience to judge whether they are being full and frank in what they tell me.

"I have been around as a lawyer, as a part-time judge, and as independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for long enough to be able to sniff out any attempt at concealment, I hope. If I find there has been concealment, I will make public that belief," he said.

While he freely admitted he is effectively 'powerless' to enforce any measure, he said that publicising any wrongdoings would be a powerful tool.

He was speaking after Kieran Doherty was found shot dead on the outskirts of Londonderry in February this year.

At the time, the dissident group the Real IRA said the 31-year-old had been killed because of links to the drugs trade.

But, family members rejected the claim and said they believed members of the security services might have been involved in his murder at some level.

Mr Doherty was a former republican prisoner who, at one stage was 'officer in command' of Real IRA prisoners in Portlaoise Prison in the Irish Republic.

He had been jailed for his part in a robbery at the Redcastle Hotel, Co Donegal, in 2002.

Prior to his February death, he alleged an approach by MI5 concerning his cigarette manufacturing firm in November 2009.

Mr Doherty went public with a claim that MI5 had approached him stating it would hamper the development of his business if he didn't co-operate with them.

Before his killing, Kieran Doherty claimed MI5 had tried to recruit him as an informer and that his business had been stalled when he refused.

He said he had four applications to HM Revenue and Customs to open new premises for the firm turned down.

(BMcC/GK)