Bugging device alert halts Sinn Fein talks

A planned session of talks between government officials and Sinn Fein was abruptly halted yesterday after the republicans said they had found a listening device in their rooms at the Stormont buildings in Belfast.

The talks were called off by agreement after Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein raised the matter with British officials. The Government denied it had bugged the suite of rooms which have been set aside for the republicans.

Although the Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, described the incident as potentially a very serious matter for the peace process, the signs last night were that both sides were anxious not to allow it to disrupt what have become regular contacts.

It is, nonetheless, embarrassing for the authorities, since so many in Northern Ireland assume that bugging is widespread and will therefore not readily accept the government denial. It is also unwelcome for Mr Adams, who would prefer to be in a positionto demonstrate to the republican movement that Sinn Fein is making progress with the Government.

The talks have so far been limited to senior Northern Ireland Office officials, but earlier this week the Government indicated that ministers could become involved before long if progress continued to be made.

Mr McGuinness said that his "security team" was carrying out an electronic sweep of their rooms, as they did before each meeting, when they detected a strong signal from a listening device. He said he had asked to see Quentin Thomas, the senior British official involved in the talks, and when he arrived with another official had shown them their scanning device. "The three of us satisfied ourselves, established to our mutual satisfaction, that there was indeed a signal," he said.

A Northern Ireland Office statement said Mr McGuinness had "demonstrated that a scanning device in their possession was receiving a positive signal from a piece of office equipment". It said the rooms were then vacated and locked, with Sinn Fein representatives observing the procedures.

Last night Michael Ancram, the Northern Ireland minister, said an RUC inquiry was under way but that nothing had so far been found in the room.

He added: "I would like categorically to state that any suggestion or inference that this room was in any way monitored by or on behalf of the British government is totally without foundation."

Mr McGuinness said it was a serious matter but added: "It is of the essence that Sinn Fein goes back into talks. We have been involved in extensive and exhaustive discussions with the British government . . . and we intend to complete those talks."