Dissident republican Paddy Murray has refuted claims that he is an MI5 agent.
The former PIRA man (44), has rubbished reports last week that claimed he had been taken into police custody after he disappeared from his Dungiven home. It was reported that police had warned Murray that they had prevented a Real IRA attempt on hi
s life.
Mr. Murray says the rumours about him were started by a top Belfast republican. "I am no MI5 tout. I know who started those rumours. It was done because there is nothing else to throw at me. I did not flee my home. I went away for a few days and I am staying with a friend and just having a break.
"In fact, I am just out for a walk at the minute. The reason people could not get in touch with me is because there is no network for my mobile in this part of the world."
Mr. Murray alleged the rumours were started by the senior republican because he hoped "some of the mud would stick". He claimed the same person had engineered the putting up of graffiti around south Antrim saying 'Paddy Murray MI5 tout'.
"Anyone who knows me would know for a fact the claims are all lies. The organisation that was meant to be trying to kill me according to the story - the Real IRA - has even come out and said it was not true. They said they did not believe that I was a tout."
Murray - originally from West Belfast - was sentenced to 25 years in jail for possession of PIRA explosives in March 1994.
He was freed in July 2000 under the Good Friday Agreement but after acting as a representative for Sinn Fein in Antrim he became a vocal critic of the party.
In 2005, Murray was accused of trying to heighten sectarian tensions in Ballymena by organising a controversial republican parade there. In February 2005, a Real IRA bomb factory was found in Ballymena.
Four men and one woman were charged with possessing three incendiaries and Real IRA membership after police raided a house in the Fisherwick estate.
In September 2005 Murray was charged with kidnapping and assaulting an Antrim man.
Earlier this year he was one of the organisers of a series of dissident republican meetings opposing Sinn Fein's support for policing.
