MLA seeks counsel on web 'mole' claim
MLA Francie Molloy has said he is taking legal advice, after a number of websites claimed he was the Sinn Fein man that the DUP will name in Parliament as a British agent who conspired in murder.
The veteran republican has said: “I am talking to my solicitors about it and they are handling it.
“I have no comment to make at all. These are allegations.”
Upper Bann MP David Simpson has said he will expose a leading Sinn Fein figure, under the legal cover of Parliamentary privilege, when the House of Commons returns from its summer break.
But he has not yet publicly identified the person he believes took part in the planning of the murder of his cousin, Frederick Lutton, near Moy, Co Armagh, in 1979.
The MP further alleges that the unnamed republican was afforded immunity from conviction by becoming a police informant.
As revealed in Monday’s News Letter, Mr Simpson has the support of Mr Lutton’s son Nigel, who has made an official complaint to the Police Ombudsman on speculation that there was a cover-up after his father’s death to protect an informer or informers.
It is understood Mr Lutton has contact with ex-police officers who will give evidence to the Ombudsman, indicating the unnamed republican was a spy.
After the threat to out an alleged Sinn Fein informer was reported, at least two internet sites made anonymous claims this was Mr Molloy.
He then contacted his solicitors.
Sinn Fein has, furthermore, accused Mr Simpson of lacking “moral courage” and hiding behind parliamentary privilege.
Mr Molloy is deputy Speaker in the Assembly.
The Dungannon-born mid-Ulster MLA was director of elections for hunger striker Bobby Sands when he won the Fermanagh-South Tyrone Westminster seat in 1981.
He is a member of both Sinn Fein’s ruling ard chomhairle and its negotiating team.
In 1991, he received a four-figure sum in compensation from the Ministry of Defence amid claims he was assaulted by a soldier.
Meanwhile, Mr Simpson’s plan to name in Parliament has been criticised by a rival unionist.
Craigavon UUP councillor Arnold Hatch said the decision raised more questions than it answered.
Though Mr Simpson was approached on the issue by the media and had not sought to make it public at this stage, Mr Hatch was suspicious.
He asked: “Why is Mr Simpson raising the issue in August – the silly season in the media – when he is only considering doing something in October?
“Could it be that he is expecting Gordon Brown to call an election in October and this question would curry some favour with his disillusioned electorate?
“His electorate trusted his word when he signed the famous letter with 11 other DUP politicians urging the Rev Ian Paisley not to do a deal with Sinn Fein/IRA.”
Mr Hatch added that he fully understood the need to find the killers of Eric Lutton and he hoped the PSNI’s historical enquiries team would be able to bring the perpetrators before the courts.
However, he also asked: “What is to be gained by Mr Simpson’s anticipated antics?
“As far as I am concerned the more Sinn Feiners acting as moles for the security forces the better. Or is there another motive?
“Is Mr Simpson, who is not a minister in the power-sharing Executive, trying to destabilise the fledgling Assembly and thereby try to justify his dramatic U-turn by supporting Sinn Fein in government?
“Something he said he would not do before the election just over 100 days ago.”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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