The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, is to present the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, with a bugging device at Leeds Castle which was uncovered at the party's Connolly House offices in west Belfast.
The listening device was found under the floorboards of an upstairs room in Connolly House on Monday evening, according to Sinn Féin. Five feet three inches long, the bugging equipment was encased in a seven-piece length of wood connected by wooden dowels.
It was was discovered when some minor maintenance work was being carried out at Connolly House, said Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin.
Last week another bug was discovered under eaves in the home of a constituency worker for Mr Adams.
The Connolly House device was fitted with a number of microphones, the heads of which looked like screw-heads, a transmitter, and numerous batteries to extend its life. The microphones were directed so that the bug could eavesdrop on conversations in an upper-room and in the conference room below.
Mr Adams said he was convinced that elements of British intelligence broke into Connolly House in order to plant the device. "The use of this very sophisticated bug is a very serious act of bad faith by the British government.
"Our delegation is bringing this device to Leeds Castle to Mr Blair, and to seek an explanation from him. I have spoken to Downing Street and to the Taoiseach's Department. I expect the Taoiseach to make strong representations to the British Prime Minister."
