Senior Conservative Party members listed in seized IRA files

IRA intelligence files, which include a list of senior members of the Conservative Party, have been found by detectives in Northern Ireland.

The information was seized during a series of searches following a break-in at Special Branch offices in Castlereagh which police believe was carried out by the IRA.

Security sources in Belfast say a list of names had been recovered in the New Lodge area of Belfast on Thursday April 18.

It is understood that acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn has briefed Professor Desmond Rea, chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Conservative Central Office in London confirmed it was aware of the list. Security sources disclosed the politicians on the list were being alerted but were unclear how many names were on the document.

The documents recovered yesterday however, are not among the documents stolen when the Special Branch office was raided on March 17.

Sinn Fein has repeatedly denied the IRA was involved in the burglary. Security chiefs nonetheless insist the missing documents from Castlereagh are in the possession of the Provisional IRA.

The Conservative Party’s Northern Ireland spokesman, Quentin Davies has been informed of the list by the Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid.

In a statement the Dr Reid said that the files did not prove that the IRA was about to resume its campaign.

He added: “There is no indication that the IRA is either about to, or intending to, recommence its campaign.

“We have always made it clear that all paramilitary groups must end all forms of terrorist activity - that includes collecting information.

“All organisations need to dismantle the apparatus of terrorism in all its forms.”

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: “We have all known that the IRA has continued to be active at a number of different levels since the ceasefire. Ongoing IRA activity has been a cause of continuing concern to many just as the continuing actions of loyalist paramilitaries create anguish and fear. It is in this context that the SDLP has emphasised the importance of decommissioning as a means of building much needed public confidence.”

The leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party are seeking an urgent formal meeting with the Acting Chief Constable regarding the list and Castlereagh break-in. (AMcE)