300 'under threat from Real IRA'

Up to 300 people in Northern Ireland have been warned by police that they could be under threat from the Real IRA.

Police have been visiting people across the province to give warnings following the uncovering of an alleged dissident republican spy operation at a Belfast hospital.

A clerk employed at the Royal Victoria Hospital with access to patient files has been charged with possessing information likely to be of use to terrorists.

It is alleged he accessed patient files to get details of members of the policing board, the district policing partnership, politicians and police officers.

Unionist politicians demanded action over the security breach at the hospital and a break-in at the Prison Service headquarters at Stormont, during which 30 demonstrators spent an hour in an office full of sensitive files.

The Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has met with Chief Constable Hugh Orde and said afterwards security warnings were being issued to "up to 300 people, and it could be more, who are now put in grave difficulty."

Jim Rodgers, chairman of the Belfast district policing partnership, convened an emergency meeting of his group to discuss threats to members.

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Maggie Hunter met the 19 members to discuss their fears after it was confirmed several - including five non-political members - had been warned about their security.

Mr Rodgers, a senior member of the Ulster Unionist Party, said : "Everybody is really angry over the threats and we are calling on the Real IRA to withdraw them."

He said Ms Hunter had told the meeting that "over 300 people" were being warned about their security by police and added "that figure could grow."

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