The PSNI has refused to say if MI5 officers were involved in a stop and search of republican mourners returning from the wake of Hooded Man Kevin Hannaway last week.
Six members of anti-agreement party Saoradh were stopped by police after leaving Mr Hannaway’s wakehouse on the outskirts of west Belfast last Thursday.
Pictures taken at the time show several masked men wearing jackets branded ‘police’.
Unusually, none of the men appear to have shoulder identification numbers on display and are wearing grey coloured combat trousers as opposed to regular PSNI issue clothing.
It was reported at the weekend that MI5 officers were deployed in west Belfast ahead of Mr Hannaway’s funeral.
The PSNI was asked if any MI5 officers were involved in police stop and search operations.
Police were also asked why those wearing ‘police’ branded jackets were not wearing shoulder identification numbers, which is normal practice.
In addition, the PSNI was also asked what unit or department any PSNI officers present belonged to.
The PSNI did not respond directly to any of the questions.
A spokeswoman said: “A number of vehicles were stopped and searched in the west Belfast area on Thursday January 9 by officers under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007.”
Hundreds of MI5 officers are based at a building used by the covert body in Holywood, Co Down.
The undercover agency is involved in attempting to recruit informers and disrupt the activities of paramilitary groups in the north.
Earlier this week the Irish News revealed that an English career criminal has claimed he was recruited to murder five people on behalf of MI5 in the early days of the Troubles.
The startling hit-man admission has been made in a sworn affidavit by convicted killer Paul Cleeland.
West Belfast People Before Profit west Belfast assembly member Gerry Carroll said: “People in west Belfast have every right to know who is patrolling their streets and what organisation they are part of, especially when those organisations are heavily armed and have a terrible history of human rights abuses”.
“Too often we have heard reports of MI5 engaging in stop and searches whilst using the PSNI as a cover,” he said.
“The Justice minister should come clean and indicate whether those who engaged in stop and searches in west Belfast last week were members of the PSNI, MI5 or some other organisation.
“The minister also needs to make it clear when and under what circumstances organisations like MI5 are given the green light to engage in policing and security acts in west Belfast and across the north.”
The Department of Justice was contacted.
Meanwhile, lawyers acting for two men, also Saoradh members, detained under the Terrorism Act while making their way to Mr Hannaway’s wake last week are taking legal action over wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.
Millie Clancy, of Phoenix Law, claimed: “Our clients’ human rights were blatantly disregarded, and we are committed to holding those responsible, accountable for this wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.”
“Our clients are seeking compensation for their unlawful detention and breach of their human rights.”