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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| No charges over Castlereagh case | No charges over Castlereagh case |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A New York chef who had been charged in connection with a break-in at Special Branch offices in Belfast in 2002 will not be brought to trial. | A New York chef who had been charged in connection with a break-in at Special Branch offices in Belfast in 2002 will not be brought to trial. |
| Larry Zaitschek, 41, who currently lives in the United States, was charged with aggravated burglary, assault and imprisonment of a police officer. | Larry Zaitschek, 41, who currently lives in the United States, was charged with aggravated burglary, assault and imprisonment of a police officer. |
| Mr Zaitschek was also accused of having information of use to terrorists. | Mr Zaitschek was also accused of having information of use to terrorists. |
| The PPS said it had decided to drop the case against him because he would not receive a fair trial. | The PPS said it had decided to drop the case against him because he would not receive a fair trial. |
| They took the decision after the police said they "could not make all relevant material available for disclosure" to them "which did not originate from the PSNI or the security and intelligence agencies". | |
| A police statement said that to disclose this material would be necessary to afford Mr Zaitschek a fair trial. | A police statement said that to disclose this material would be necessary to afford Mr Zaitschek a fair trial. |
| "Despite the efforts of the PSNI, we are not in a position to make available all the relevant material to PPS for the purposes of disclosure," the statement said. | "Despite the efforts of the PSNI, we are not in a position to make available all the relevant material to PPS for the purposes of disclosure," the statement said. |
| "Consequently, the PPS have concluded that Mr Zaitschek could not receive a fair trial and PSNI are in agreement that a prosecution could not proceed in those circumstances." | "Consequently, the PPS have concluded that Mr Zaitschek could not receive a fair trial and PSNI are in agreement that a prosecution could not proceed in those circumstances." |
| Embarrassment | Embarrassment |
| The incident at the Castlereagh security base, where Mr Zaitschek worked as a cook, on 17 March 2002 was a huge embarrassment for the police. | The incident at the Castlereagh security base, where Mr Zaitschek worked as a cook, on 17 March 2002 was a huge embarrassment for the police. |
| Three men walked in to what was supposed to be a highly secure room packed full of sensitive security information, tied up a police officer and stole dozens of Special Branch files. | Three men walked in to what was supposed to be a highly secure room packed full of sensitive security information, tied up a police officer and stole dozens of Special Branch files. |
| These files included details of Special Branch officers and their agents' codewords. | These files included details of Special Branch officers and their agents' codewords. |
| Millions of pounds were spent re-housing officers and others, whose security had been compromised. | Millions of pounds were spent re-housing officers and others, whose security had been compromised. |
| Mr Zaitschek flew to the US shortly after the break-in, leaving his wife and young son behind. | Mr Zaitschek flew to the US shortly after the break-in, leaving his wife and young son behind. |
| It is understood that Mr Zaitschek's wife was in protective custody after the incident and may have been used as one of the key prosecution witnesses. | It is understood that Mr Zaitschek's wife was in protective custody after the incident and may have been used as one of the key prosecution witnesses. |
| Mr Zaitschek has always denied all the charges against him and denied having anything to do with the break-in. | Mr Zaitschek has always denied all the charges against him and denied having anything to do with the break-in. |
| In June 2006, he began High Court action against the Public Prosecution Service. | In June 2006, he began High Court action against the Public Prosecution Service. |
| He said he wanted to return to Northern Ireland to see his son, and demanded to know whether any action was to be taken against him. | He said he wanted to return to Northern Ireland to see his son, and demanded to know whether any action was to be taken against him. |
| The IRA denied being responsible for the break-in. | The IRA denied being responsible for the break-in. |