Northern Ireland Office minister Mr Ian Pearson has failed in his attempt to damp down rumour and speculation over a new security breach at the Castlereagh base in Belfast.
Mr Pearson, supported by other security sources, has insisted that there are no indications that a sensitive document missing from the Castlereagh security complex has fallen into paramilitary hands.
Speculation that the document, reportedly containing details about 400 republicans and loyalists, is now under the control of the UDA was fuelled by the arrest and release last week of a soldier based at Castlereagh.
The British army refused to confirm that the soldier was a member of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR). Now it is reported that 28 RIR soldiers have been removed from duties at Castlereagh, the complex from where senior elements of police Special Branch and military intelligence operates.
The British army also refused to comment on a Press Association report yesterday that the soldiers were removed from security duties at Castlereagh. A source told the Press Association the soldiers were removed after a security inspection at Castlereagh discovered some of the soldiers were not cleared to operate at the complex.
Mr Pearson, after a meeting with Sinn Féin MLA, Mr Gerry Kelly, yesterday morning, finally confirmed that a document was missing from the centre.
There are no indications that anybody listed on the document has been warned about their security. Security and official sources have suggested the document may be lost rather than stolen.
This, however, has failed to satisfy Sinn Féin and the SDLP. Mr Kelly of Sinn Féin said when he met Mr Pearson yesterday he refused to answer questions on the possible involvement of the RIR in the missing dossier.
"Given the history of the RIR involvement in collusion with loyalist death squads people will now be in little doubt about the whereabouts of the missing dossier. Is Ian Pearson seriously saying that he was not aware of this when questioned by me?" Mr Kelly said he would be raising the issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, in Dublin today.
