'I am being harassed without reason' says Royal's brother

Gerard Royal has blasted the media coverage as an assault on his private life but is refusing to confirm or deny the accusation.

He told the weekly news magazine the Nouvel Observateur: "This entire business makes me deeply upset".

"I disapprove of things being written about me in connection with this affair. It's ancient history and to go over it again makes me feel that I am being harassed without reason. People are trying to intrude on my private life without cause. I have never said anything about this affair, about my role or not in the operation, and I never will say anything."

His identification in the press has been a major embarrassment for his sister and likely presidential contender, Segolene.

Gerard Royal indirectly criticised his younger brother, Antoine, for speaking to the daily Parisien. "Some people with outsized egos are trying to puff themselves up and say things that do not belong in the public domain. I deeply regret them informing the press and using my name. It's not fun getting saddled with a reputation for being a dumb agent who worked in a dumb operation. It badly affects me in my professional life."

An intelligence source confirmed to the Herald that Royal's official codename in Operation Satanic was "Derrick" but his nicknames were "Pierre le marin" (Peter the seaman) or "L'homme au bonnet rouge" (the man in the red cap). Royal rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was promoted to colonel the day he left to boost his pension, concurring sources say.

The Nouvel Observateur said Royal now works in "economic intelligence".

Antoine Royal said his brother had told him "that it was he who planted the bomb" on the ship [investigations showed in fact that two bombs were used]. AFP said Royal drove a Zodiac inflatable, taking two other combat divers to a drop-off point. They attached the bombs to the hull.