There were indications last night that British intelligence may have been spying on Sinn Féin's headquarters during the Stakeknife saga.
The Irish News understands that several men were found in the loft of a building overlooking party offices on the Falls Road in west Belfast on Tuesday.
The dramatic development came as Alfredo Scappaticci, the man alleged to be Stakeknife, emerged from hiding to protest his innocence, denying claims that he had worked for the security forces.
But the controversy took on another bizarre twist last night after details of the incident in the Falls Road library emerged.
Sinn Féin has held a number of press conferences over the Stakeknife affair at its offices – separated from the building by a small side street – and there had been speculation that Mr Scappaticci would make his first public appearance there.
His exact whereabouts and the company he was in had been the centre of intense media speculation over the last few days, after it was alleged he was spirited out of Belfast in an operation involving the police and British army.
It is understood that there had been an infestation of fleas in the library building, which had previously been treated by pest control experts.
However, the infestation reoccurred and it was decided to investigate a loft area above a creche located on the first floor.
Reports suggest four men were in the loft, one of whom spoke with an English accent.
Without any explanation as to what they were doing there, the men left the building and got into a waiting car.
The astonishing incident has prompted concerns that it may be linked to the Stakeknife affair.
Sinn Féin councillor Fra McCann said it would not be the first time that the loft had been used for spying.
He said: "In and around that area, over a long period of time, there have been many recorded incidents of British intelligence using houses, buildings and properties as spy posts on the local community.
"In people's minds this was probably a planned, calculated operation."
A spokesman for Belfast Education and Library Board said it had been made aware of the alleged activity.
However, its ground-floor staff had been unable to provide any information about the incident.
A British army spokesman said he was unable to comment on the claims.
SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood said this was a time when there was "rumour, counter-rumour, allegation and counter-allegation" abroad.
"People should not rush to quick judgments without people rigorously investigating allegations and drawing reasonable conclusions," he said.
"Like much of today's development there is confusion, there are extraordinary things happening and, for most people, the jury is out on the truth of Stakeknife and any other allegation of clandestine activity."
