A British agent who infiltrated the Provisional IRA has said he is "shocked and dismayed" at the Police Ombudsman's office for asking him why he believes the PSNI is aware of a threat to his life from dissident republicans.

Kevin Fulton from Newry, who is living at a secret location in Britain, had complained to the Ombudsman's office that the PSNI hasn't made contact with him after the Real IRA named him as a target.

The threat against Fulton was made by a Real IRA army council representative in a Sunday Tribune interview. The Real IRA admitted killing British agent and Sinn Féin's former chief administrator at Stormont, Denis Donaldson, and threatened other informers including Fulton, Martin McGartland, Raymond Gilmour and Freddie Scapaticci.

Fulton is alleging that his human rights have been violated by the PSNI for "not informing me of these threats from a terrorist organisation". However, he said he was stunned by the response from the Ombudsman's office.

In correspondence, an official stated: "I thank you for the documentation you forwarded to me which indicates that a Real IRA spokesman identified you as one of the organisation's targets. In order to progress this matter further I would ask you to confirm what leads you to the belief that the PSNI were or are aware of this specific threat."

Fulton said: "This question is unbelievable. The PSNI are well aware of this threat because they initiated legal proceedings against the journalist who wrote the article. I think that proves 100% that they read it.

"The deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, was named in the same interview. He has been warned by police that his life is in danger. Why did the PSNI inform Martin McGuinness of the threat but not me? Is his life more valuable?"

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