I'm with Ireland on the point that it's no good using past atrocities as justification of counter atricities. That way they never end. (And the horrible example of what's happening in the Holy Land comes to mind - every cruel and vicious act on either side is presented as being a justified retaliation, and serves at a provocation for the next round.)

But I don't see information gathering, even espionage, as the same kind of thing as a breaking of the ceasefire. Nobody sees that kind of thing carried out by governments as being an act of war in itself. Nobody doubts that the British authoirities are busily gathering information which would be highly useful if the war started again - but, quite rightly, that is not seen as a breach of the ceasefire, or as an indication that the British Government is planning to restart the war.

All the evidence is that the security people knew about this a long time ago, and have chosen to bring it in to the open at this time for reasons best known to themselves.

The bottom line is that the paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland which is most effectively sticking to the ceasefire is the IRA.