The man, who asked not to be identified, said he was arrested on Thursday morning last and taken to Antrim PSNI Station where he was told he was being held in connection with the attempted murder of the PSNI man.

He added: “I told them that I was at work that morning and that there was about 60 to 70 people who could tell them that. The best about it was that I don’t even work in Derry so I wasn’t even in the city when the shooting happened.

“They kept telling me that they had evidence to connect me to the shooting and, when they were asked to produce it, they said they would do so later but they never did. I have to say the whole thing was very vague and they never asked me anything concrete except to account for my movements which I did.”

He went on: “What I did find very disturbing was the stuff they took from my home and then questioned me about. They produced a copy of Bobby Sand’s Diary and they brought it in a forensic bag as if it was vital evidence. Then they produced two memory sticks from my children’s school work. I don’t think they even looked at them as one had my child’s Bebo stuff on it and the other was the other child’s project work.

“Again these were all wrapped up in plastic as if they were vital evidence. Then they produced another book in a plastic bag as if there was something wrong with reading about old republicans. They also took away all my mobile phones. I can only think it is to make my life as difficult as possible.”

The man went on: “I would describe myself as someone who might not agree with the current political direction but is it a crime now to hold a different opinion from other people? This really is the thought police when the books you read can be used against you. They also took away my car and this I believe was done to try and get me to lose my job.”

The man was held for two days before eventually being released without charge.