Note the Northern Ireland Office (a department of the UK government) is justifying the raid on Sinn Féin's offices at Stormont (seat of regional government in NI) on the basis that many confidential documents were recovered. Considering that one of the three people arrested was their own agent, was that really such an extraordinary achievement?
As a direct result of "Stormontgate," unionists threatened to resign from the power-sharing executive. Faced with this threat the British govrnment suspended regional government in NI and replaced it (again) with direct rule from London. Yet last week - three years after the raid, and with Stormont still suspended - it was blandly announced that all charges would be withdrawn. And the Director of Public Prosecutions has refused to say why.
Any suggestion that the self-confessed agent is lying or exaggerating could hardly be taken seriously. Irish republicans are not noted for soft-pedalling on informers, and although Gerry Adams says this one has nothing to fear, my guess is that to all intents and purposes he is already a dead man.
For once it is hard to disagree with that loathesome DUP politician Jeffrey Donaldson, when he says a full public enquiry is surely needed.