Gardai probe UK police spy's role with Shell to Sea
GARDA chiefs are preparing a report for new Justice Minister Brendan Smith on the activities of an undercover British police officer who infiltrated environmental protest groups here.
The report is being drawn up after concerns were expressed that Mark Kennedy had been involved in protests over the Corrib gas pipeline in north Mayo.
He is also said to have taken part in other major protests including the May Day clashes in Dublin in 2004 and demonstrations against the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft.
Mr Kennedy, whose family live in Co Cork, was known to protesters here and in Britain as Mark Stone and was nicknamed 'Flash'.
He lived a double life as a member of a national intelligence unit with the Metropolitan Police and as a green activist, based in Nottingham.
The garda report had been sought by former Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, who said that if Mr Kennedy had been active here, he would have been subject to Irish law like any other person.
He appealed to anyone with information that suggested Mr Kennedy had broken the law to make it available to gardai.
Mr Ahern said he was also aware a series of investigations were under way in the UK into Mr Kennedy's activities to establish the role he might have played in protests.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has also been in touch with the British Embassy in Dublin about the reports.
Labour TD Michael D Higgins has written to the Department of Justice to voice his "grave concern" at Mr Kennedy's activities here.
In March 2006 Mr Kennedy spent several days in north Mayo and offered advice on protest action at a Shell to Sea workshop.
He also paid a visit to the home of Rossport Five member Willie Corduff with a group of British and Icelandic activists.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
