February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Cryptome, which is run by New York architect John Young, last Thursday published images of 12 Garda officers and one vehicle — allegedly used by Special Branch.
The Web site, which is notorious for publishing classified or sensitive information, carried footage of the beheading of Iraqi contractor Nick Berg last month and was behind the “Stakeknife” affair last year.
The photographs make the 12 men clearly identifiable and have raised concerns that the safety of the officers may now be compromised. The Garda refused to confirm or deny that the 12 men were Special Branch officers but it has begun an investigation into how the photographs made their way onto the Internet.
However, as the site is based in the U.S., there is little the Irish authorities can do about the postings without the assistance of the FBI.
It is thought that Irish anti-globalization protesters may be behind the photographs. Indymedia — an Irish Web site, published images of alleged Special Branch officers at a protest event in Galway two weeks ago. Indymedia is the Web site of choice for a plethora of radical left-wing activists and was prominent in denouncing the recent European Union expansion celebrations held in Dublin earlier this month.
Cryptome is well-known for its publication of controversial material. It carried audio footage of alleged IRA informer Freddie Scappaticci speaking to journalists about senior members of the republican movement. It was also implicated in the breaking of the “Stakeknife” story last May, though Young has denied he published the first allegations against the West Belfast man.
The site has also incurred the wrath of the U.S. authorities with its regular posting of sensitive information relating to national security. Earlier this year it included satellite images of what it said, were the homes of CIA director George Tenet, Attorney General John Ashcroft, and senior advisor to President Bush Karl Rove. It was inundated with hits after it provided a link to the video recording of Nick Berg’s killing earlier this month.