SF angry at case against republican

Sinn Fein is to challenge Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde over a decision to charge a top republican with money laundering.

Police allegedly found 20,000 in sterling and euro in a car owned by Brian Arthurs (42) a court today heard in Dungannon, Co Tyrone where he also accused of fraudulently obtaining money.

During the hearing it was alleged by police the charges were part of a multi-million pound fraud investigation, but Mr Arthurs' solicitor and friends claimed it was linked to a discrepancy in a mortgage application form.

Mr Arthurs, who is also from Dungannon was granted bail to appear at a later hearing. His solicitor

Peter Corrigan said the charges were an example of political policing at its worst.

His client he said, had been pivotal in helping persuade members of the community in east Tyrone to support the police.

But now he was being prosecuted over his role in the Troubles and to settle old scores. Outside the court, Francie Molloy, a Sinn Fein member at the Northern Ireland Assembly where he is also a deputy Speaker, warned his party, which has three representatives on the new Policing Board, would be taking the matter up with Sir Hugh.

The charges he claimed, had been driven by elements within the PSNI who were involved in a politically motivated anti-republican vendetta.

The PSNI had serious questions to answer around the operation over the past week and which he claimed was linked to a discrepancy in a mortgage application form.

It followed two heavy-handed raids on Mr Arthurs' home, raids on the homes and businesses of other republicans and a heavy media briefing that all of this was to do with serious organised crime. He added: "This entire operation, if not so serious for Brian and his young family, would be bordering on farce.

"The PSNI have very serious questions to answer regarding this entire matter and Hugh Orde and his colleagues can rest assured that Sinn Fein will be pursuing this matter relentlessly in the time ahead.