‘MI5 tried to recruit me as informer’ - says Kildress man

A YOUNG Kildress man is to sue MI5 after claiming they invaded his privacy.
Pacemaker Press 23/10/12 Kevin Barry Murphy 'right'  and Partick Carty leave Armagh Court on tuesday after their  terrorism charges against them both have been  dropped, They had been charged in relation to a bomb-making factory discovered in South Armagh last year  Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 23/10/12 Kevin Barry Murphy 'right'  and Partick Carty leave Armagh Court on tuesday after their  terrorism charges against them both have been  dropped, They had been charged in relation to a bomb-making factory discovered in South Armagh last year  Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 23/10/12 Kevin Barry Murphy 'right' and Partick Carty leave Armagh Court on tuesday after their terrorism charges against them both have been dropped, They had been charged in relation to a bomb-making factory discovered in South Armagh last year Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Emmet McElhatton says he was left “terrified” after attempts were made to recruit him as an informer while working in England.

The 21 year-old, who is the nephew of prominent republican Kevin Barry Murphy, said he was approached on a number of occasions whilst in London on a plumbing contract last month.

In one incident, when he was returning to the province from England, he claims to have had his arm “twisted” behind his back after refusing to give, who believed to be intelligence officers, his phone.

The alleged incident, in which Mr McElhatton claims to have been “pushed” into a room at Belfast International Airport, is said to have happened on March 27th.

“They were very rash and angry and used a lot of bad language,” the 21 year-old told the Irish News.

“They offered me money and they said they could help me get to Australia.

“At one stage my phone went off and I turned it off.

“One of the men demanded my phone and I wouldn’t give it to him he twisted my arm behind my back.”

“In the end they said: ‘Are you willing to help us?’

“I said ‘no’ and one of them said: ‘ The next time you see us we will be wearing forensic suits.’

Mr McElhatton has now vowed not to return to England after the “terrifying” experience/

“I am not politically involved in anything,” he said.

“I think I am being targeted because of my family background.”

“The whole thing experience was terrifying, knowing I am being watched, my phone calls tracked and being followed.”

The Kildress man’s solicitor Peter Corrigan said he was pursuing legal action against M15.

“We will be taking legal action against MI5 for an invasion of his privacy under article 8 on the European convention,” Mr Corrigan said.

“They were disturbing him while he went about his business and work in London. That is improper policing.”

As well as his uncle’s being name mentioned to him during the alleged approaches, Mr McElhatton claims that the name of a man connected to the murder of Prison Officer David Black, was also brought up.

The plumber says the alleged officers also mentioned 36 year-old Damien McLaughlin from Tyrone.

He is currently on remand in Maghaberry accused of supplying a car used by a group calling itself ‘the IRA’ during the Cookstown man’s shooting on November 1.

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