arrest of 35 republicans in his native city of Londonderry.

However, the case collapsed when the then Lord Chief Justice dismissed Mr Gilmour's evidence as being "unworthy of belief".

Image caption Ian Paisley Jr said an agent who worked for the government should be protected

He said he was "heartbroken and disgusted" by the judge's comments.

"I knew I was telling the truth, I was told there were deals struck by RUC men behind the scenes that decisions had to be made that wouldn't be palatable for me, so I was going to be the fall guy," he said.

'Totally paranoid'

After Mr Gilmour's testimony, graffiti appeared around Derry saying he would "be got, sooner or later".

He said he continued to be "totally paranoid" that he would be discovered and keeps a gun byhis bed.

For some, Mr Gilmour is still remembered as a traitor who was guilty of betrayal.

Former Sinn Fein publicity director Danny Morrison said: "There will be no love lost for him, no sympathy for him and it doesn't come unexpected that when MI5 are finished with people they discard them."

Ian Paisley Jr, the Democratic Unionist Party MP for North Antrim, said he had sympathy for anyone who had risked their life and the government had failed to protect them.

"An agent - that's who we're talking about - who worked for the government in the dirtiest war ever this side of Kosovo should be protected and given his contractual obligations," he said.

Image caption Senior Irish republican Danny Morrison said what had happened to Mr Gilmour was not a surprise

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