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MI5 operatives told today how they got into a West Belfast house to install a listening device used to spy on IRA suspects.

The spooks planted an audio recording device in the house where an alleged drug dealer was interrogated and threatened that he would have his “legs blown off with a shotgun”.

But a Security Service witness refused to tell Belfast Crown Court today whether or not the device was “covert”, saying it could “damage national security”.

The MI5 technical officer - who was screened and given the cypher ‘Pin 3572’ to protect his identity - was giving evidence at the trial of four men accused of a number of terrorism-related charges, including IRA membership.

The four defendants are: 52-year-old Mark Gerard Heaney of Lagmore Gardens, Daniel Joseph Anthony McClean of Lagmore Gardens, 62-year-old Kevin O’Neill from Coolnasilla Park South and 41-year-old Robert Warnock O’Neill of Bingnian Drive.

All are accused of IRA membership between December 2013 and June 2014, and conspiracy to inflict grievous bodily harm on a suspected drug dealer.

Heaney and Robert O’Neill also face separate charges of possessing a firearm with intent and under suspicious circumstances, and with McClean also with collecting information on drug dealers and falsely imprisoning a suspected dealer.

Kevin O’Neill alone is additionally charged with possessing articles useful to terrorists including an imitation firearm, camouflage jackets and black gloves, allegedly uncovered during a search of his home following his arrest in June 2014.

The accused deny all the charges.

In the opening of the trial earlier this week, the prosecution told trial Judge Paticia Smyth that the recordings were made between December 2013 and May 2014.

In one recording, it was claimed, a suspected drug dealer was threatened that he would have his “legs being taken off with a shotgun” if he did not provide information on other alleged dealers.

A prosecution lawyer said that during his 41-minute ordeal, the man was told by one interrogator he would not think twice about putting him in a “body bag, or an open or closed coffin” and again threatened that he was a “hair-trigger away of getting your legs blown off”.

Today, the prosecution called ‘Pin 3572’ to the witness stand which was screened off from the court with a dark blue curtain.

A brown envelope he brought to court was handed to Judge Smyth which confirmed his identity.

During questioning by the prosecution, ‘PIN 3572’ confirmed that he was a “technical officer with the Securtiy Services”.

He also confirmed that on a date prior to December 16, 2013, “I installed an audio device at a property at Aspen Walk” in the Twinbrook area.

The witness said that during the installation of the audio device at Aspen Walk, he was accompanied by another technical officer along with a “team leader PIN 4756”.

Defence barrister Jon Paul Shields asked the witness: “This was a covert device?”

‘PIN 3572’ replied: “That answer could damage national security.”

The prosecution called the second witness - ‘PIN 4578’ - who confirmed his identity to the judge.

He was asked: “In relation to this case, what did you do?"

‘PIN 3572’ replied: “I was simply the team leader for this case.”

He confirmed that he was team leader when the device was installed in Aspen Walk.

Defence barrister JonPaul Shields asked the MI5 officer: “If I was to ask you any questions about the device, the technical specifications, are you in a position to answer those questions?”

The MI5 team leader replied: “I’m afraid I can’t.”

Belfast Crown Court also heard today from a third MI5 technical officer who was given the cypher ‘PIN 4126’.

He confirmed to the prosecution that he was present on a date before December 16, 2013, when the audio device was planted at a house in Aspen Walk.

‘PIN 4126’ told the court that on a date after May 7, 2014, he returned to the property with an MI5 colleague, known as ‘PIN 1004’, to “extract the audio material”.

Under cross exmaination by defence barrister JonPaul Shields, ‘PIN 4126’ was asked: “So you were the only person involved in both the installation and extraction of the device in question?”

The witness replied from behind the curtain: “Yes.”

Mr Shields further inquired: “If I was to ask you questions relating to the device, about its capabilities, would you be prepared to answer those questions?”

‘PIN 4126’ answered: “No, I am afraid I can’t for national security reasons.”

The MI5 technical officer was asked what happened to the audio device after it was extracted.

The witness replied: “It was taken by myself and then passed over.”

Asked who it gave it to, ‘PIN 4126’ answered: “I can’t name that person.”

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