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Carn passport - Russian diplomat
expelled
01.02.11
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A Russian diplomat has
been expelled from Ireland after a garda
investigation revealed that Russia's intelligence
services forged Irish passports for use by a
US-based spy ring. |
Among the passports
compromised was that of Carndonagh fireman, Eunan Gerard
Doherty. A secret agent was to collect false travel
documents in Mr Doherty's name in Rome to covertly
get into Russia. It is understood the passport of Mr
Doherty's wife Maureen was also compromised. The
couple have consistently declined to comment on the
incident.
'The activities of Russian intelligence services in |
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Eunan Doherty |
connection with the
forgery of Irish passports and the effective theft
of the identity of six Irish citizens are completely
unacceptable,' said the Department of Foreign
Affairs in a statement.
The Department's secretary general told the Russian
Ambassador in Dublin that the accreditation of one
of his staff had been terminated and the diplomat
has been asked to leave Ireland by a specified date.
"The Government, by today's action, has once again
made clear that it will not tolerate the fabrication
and use of forged Irish passports by agents of a
foreign state,' it said.
"It is hoped that it will be possible to move on
from this disturbing incident and to develop further
the relationship between Ireland and the Russian
Federation."
Irish passports are prized because Ireland's neutral
status leaves its citizens welcome in most
countries.
The Government called on Israel last year to
withdraw a staff member at its Dublin embassy over
the use of fake passports in the killing of a Hamas
leader in Dubai. |
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