Sinn Fein is to hold an auction of a bug they claim was planted in their offices by M15 operatives.

The item was originally listed on eBay but was removed from the site last night – instead the auction will go ahead at sinnfeinbookshop.com.

General secretary Mitchel McLaughlin said the removal of the auction from eBay was a “clumsy attempt at censorship”.

He added: “Many people believe that the removal of the auction came about as a result of the efforts of the same shadowy individuals who were responsible for putting this bugging device in Sinn Fein’s offices in the first place.”