Sinn Fein official 'had file on Army officer'

A high-ranking Sinn Fein official had personal details of the most senior British Army officer in Northern Ireland in documents found at his home, a court heard yesterday.

Denis Donaldson, who ran the party's offices at Stormont, is also accused of having a sketch of the building where Dr John Reid, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has his office, as well as a confidential government document.

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, and a number of senior party members were among those who crowded into the Belfast courtroom for the unusual Sunday hearing, where Mr Donaldson, 52, faced charges of having documents that could be useful to terrorists planning and carrying out violent acts.

Armed police guarded the dock and all doors as Mr Donaldson was accused of having documents containing personal details of a police officer, known loyalists and members of the armed forces, including Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin, the general officer commanding in Northern Ireland.

The documents were found at Mr Donaldson's home in west Belfast by police carrying out a raid last week.

Fiona Farrelly, a 46-year-old caterer from west Belfast, also appeared in court accused of having a laptop computer that held the personal details of full-time employees of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

Detective Inspector Paul McClatchey told the court that when police searched Mr Donaldson's workspace at the Sinn Fein offices at Stormont on Friday, a CD-Rom and floppy disc were removed. They were among a vast number of articlesbeing examined as part of the investigation, he said.

Mr Donaldson and Ms Farrelly were remanded in custody. Outside the building, more than 200 republicans staged a protest against the arrests.

Mr Adams criticised Dr Reid for cancelling a meeting with his party today, saying: "What is he afraid of? Our party have no questions to answer on these matters." He added that Mr Donaldson had been "hung, drawn and quartered" by media reports.