September 24, 2006 21

DETECTIVES have re-opened the kidnap andabduction file on formerIRA spy Martin McGart-land.

Two detectives from thePSNI based at Antrim Roadin Belfast this week flew toEngland to interview the spythe RUC secretly called‘Agent Carol’.

The interview, which lastedfour hours, was arrangedbetween McGartland’s MI5security handlers and the PSNIand was held at a top securityLondon police station.

McGartland, who lives at a secretaddress somewhere in Britain, trav-elled in cognito to the interviewbecause of the threat to his lifefrom individual IRA members.

McGartland told the Sunday Worldfrom his secret hideaway address: “Imade a very detailed statement,which probably ran to at least 12pages in total, outlining what hap-pened to me on August 8, 1991.

“My basic point to the detectives isthat my original complaint to theRUC was never properly investigated.

“I was told at the time by SpecialBranch not to say too much andbelieved this was because theywere planning something againstmy abductors. But nothing hap-pened and Jim McCarthy and Paul‘Chico’ Hamilton escaped acrossthe border to avoid arrest.

“So if it happens again this time

SPY CASE REOPENEDBy JOHN CASSIDY

because it is “not in the publicinterest’’ then I will be making aformal complaint to the PoliceOmbudsman that only was my firstcomplaint not properly investigatedbut also my second complaint has-n’t been properly been investigated.

Tortured“I think it is about time I got jus-

tice and those who kidnapped me,tortured me with the intention ofkilling me were brought before acourt to face justice.

“I think McCarthy and Hamiltonshould now be arrested, chargedand put before a court and let ajudge decide who is telling thetruth.

“But if that doesn’t happen, then itwill prove once and for all that eitherMcCarthy or both him and Hamiltonwere security force agents inside theIRA which is what I believe.’’

McGartland, 38, said the detectivesare also planning to speak to aretired RUC detective in west BelfastCID who investigated his originalkidnapping while lying in a safehouse inside Palace Barracks, Holy-wood, recovering from his injuries hereceived after jumping 40ft to theground to escape his captors.

And detectives will be speakingto his former Special Branch han-dlers and will also be reviewingSpecial Branch intelligence log

books on the day of his abduction.“I think they will also be looking

at the diaries belonging to IanPhoenix, who ran the RUC’s sur-veillance team on the day of myabduction, and which was detailedin his book Policing the Shadows’’.

On August 7, 1991, McGartlandwas at his mother’s west Belfasthome when a woman he knew as‘Carol’, an IRA messenger in her 20s,called to tell him: “You have to goand see Padraig Wilson at ConnollyHouse…at ten tomorrow morning.’’

Connolly House was Sinn Fein’sheadquarters in west Belfast andPadraig Wilson was head of theIRA’s Civil Administration Team,its internal discipline department.

McGartland suspected troubleand headed home to use a secretSB radio to contact his handler‘Felix’ to seek his advice.

When he went the following day,he was met by two IRA members,Jim ‘Filter Tip’ McCarthy and Paul‘Chico’ Hamilton, who laterbecame bodyguards to Sinn Feinpresident Gerry Adams who tookhim to Broom Park in Twinbrook.

After spending a few minutesinside the flat, McCarthy, Hamiltonand a third unnamed man cameout of the kitchen.

“Listen,’’ said Jim, “ProvisionalIRA.You’re under arrest.’’

“McCarthy pulled out a hand gunand said ‘Lie face down on thefloor and don’t try anything’.

“I could see ‘Chico’ taking the lacesout of my trainers. He tied my handsin front of my body but fumbled whenhe tried to tie the knot. Then he tiedthe other laces around my ankles.

McGartland asked his captors touse the bathroom and it was herehe made good his escape.

ESCAPED : Jim ‘Filter Tip’ McCarthy and Paul ‘Chico’ Hamilton

IN HIDING:MartinMcGartlandwho was re-interviewedthis week SPY CASE REOPENED

McGartland demandsaction on kidnap bid