The former British intelligence officer, Martin Ingram, who claims that
Martin McGuinness is a spy, has challenged the Sinn Féin MP to a live
television debate.
McGuinness has strongly denied the allegation but Ingram told the Sunday
Tribune there was one way to settle the matter: "I've never shown my face in
front of the cameras but I'll do it now because of the seriousness of the
subject.
"I'm challenging McGuinness to a live TV debate – anytime any place,
anywhere. There are no preconditions. The ball's in your court, Martin."
Ingram denied he had behaved irresponsibly by making the allegation but
admitted it could place McGuinness's safety in jeopardy. "If Martin got
whacked tonight, I wouldn't lose any sleep and vice-versa.
"Martin plays by big boys' rules, he knows the score. But my advice to
Martin is to f*** off out of Ireland. Don't try to ride it out. Do a Scap,
not a Donaldson." Former IRA internal security head and British spy,
Freddie Scapaticci, now lives abroad.
Ingram denied claims that the document he had released to the media was
fabricated. He claimed he had two sources, one of whom was a serving Special
Branch officer "pissed off with the government's handling of the peace
process". He had personally met only one of the sources but was confident of the
other's bona fides.
Ingram has erected a photograph of McGuinness on his website, headlined:
"Pissing on the myth, week one". He said he did not have audio evidence to
prove his case, such as a tape-recording of McGuinness talking to his
alleged handler, but he said there was "some other material".
Ingram claimed the DUP had more substantial documents 'outing' McGuinness:
"I'm told by Special Branch sources that the DUP is sitting pretty on these
documents."
Sources told the Sunday Tribune that a well-known DUP politician had
received these documents by Special Branch elements, and the DUP man then
gave the documents to Sunday Times Ireland Editor, Liam Clarke, who is
co-authoring a book on undercover military operations.
A DUP spokesman denied the party possessed such material. "I've no knowledge
of documents relating to Martin McGuinness received by the party or handed
over to anybody else," he said. Clarke said: "I don't have any documents
exposing McGuinness as an informer from the DUP or anybody else."
