2:33pm UK, Sunday January 16, 2011
An undercover police officer - who spent eight years infiltrating a group of environmental protesters - has claimed he now fears for his safety.
Mark Kennedy said his life has become a "living nightmare" since his involvement in the police operation was outed.
In an interview in the Mail On Sunday, the father of two added that his eldest son never wants to see him again - and how he had "dark thoughts" and contemplated suicide.
He also criticises his superiors, describing his extraction from the operation as "totally appalling" with no regard for his future safety.
"I went to see a psychiatrist recently and told her I was having thoughts of suicide. I don't have any confidence. My world has been destroyed," he told the paper.
Mr Kennedy’s role in the undercover operation was revealed when a trial at Nottingham Crown Court saw six people accused of planning to invade Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
The protesters have claimed the case collapsed after Mr Kennedy offered to give evidence on their behalf.
Mark KennedyThe way that I was extracted was totally appalling. I was given no confidence at all that my safety was ever going to be regarded.
Mr Kennedy has said he believes tape recordings made by him while undercover were withheld from the court by police out of fear it would destroy the prosecution's case.
Mr Kennedy said: "The truth of the matter is that the tapes clearly show that the six defendants who were due to go on trial had not joined any conspiracy."
He was able to infiltrate the group under the guise of a long-haired climber called Mark Stone.
Speaking to Sky News, Graham Wettone, a former sergeant with the Metropolitan Police, said he could feel some sympathy for Mr Kennedy, particularly if he feels "left alone and cast adrift".
However, Mr Wettone added that the reports about how Kennedy was handled while undercover did not fit his experiences of similar operations.
He said: "They (undercdover officers) are usually very well managed and well supervised and controlled while they are in that role."
Mark Kennedy has spoken to The Mail On Sunday
Speaking about his life, Mr Kennedy has said he is "physically and mentally exhausted".
He explained how his family has suffered, with his children left devastated by the events surrounding his involvement with the case.
He has also dismissed claims that he went rogue - and defended the friendships he formed while undercover.
"Of course I cared about them. But I didn't go rogue. I was immersing myself in the culture to do my job, to be credible," he said.
However, Mr Kennedy has admitted to regret over having sexual relationships with two of the activists.
Once undercover, the officer joined activists in five major protests, his first one being at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in 2005.
He saved his fiercest criticism for his superiors in the police force and they way his removal from the operation was handled.
He said: "The way that I was extracted was totally appalling. I was given no confidence at all that my safety was ever going to be regarded."
No comments:
Post a Comment