Pat Finucane Centre, http://www.serve.com/pfc, March, 30, 2002

RUC/PSNI raids in astonishing connection with the March 17 break-in in Castlereagh

At 7am local time today, officers from the RUC/PSNI's Belfast Crime Squad and Tactical Support Groups (TSGs) raided the offices of Tar Abhaile, the republican ex prisoners support group, at number 1 West End Park, the same building in which the Pat Finucane Centre has its premises.

Using disproportionate force (a key was available) officers sledhehammered the door of one of the Tar Abhaile Offices and took away files, computers, disquettes, telephone books, diaries, notebooks, CD roms.

At the same time they made what can only be described as an extremely aggressive arrest operation, again using sledgehammers, of one of theTar Abhaile workers at his home where he lives with his partner and very young children.

Astonishingly, the RUC/PSNI are telling journalists that the operation, which includes the reported simultaneous arrests of 5 republicans at a number of other locations throughout the north, is connected with the March 17 break-in in Castlereagh.

During the raid on the 1 West End Park premises hostile RUC/PSNI officers consistently denied PFC staff and management committee access to their offices to verify their property.

The PFC will provide updates as more info comes in.