Prosecutions arising from an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont were politically motivated, a lawyer claimed yesterday.
The claim was made at Belfast Magistrates Court by Mr Joe McVeigh, solicitor for one of three Belfast men accused of possessing documents which could be useful to terrorists.
They are: Mr Denis Donaldson (53), Sinn Féin's head of administration at Stormont when he was arrested last October; his son-in-law, Mr Ciarán Kearney (32), Commedagh Drive; and Mr William Mackessy (45), a former Stormont porter, Wolfend Way, Ligoniel. The hearing was adjourned until November 12th.