Adams Rejects Claims He Sanctioned The Murder Of Denis Donaldson

Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, has rejected claims that he sanctioned the murder of British spy, Denis Donaldson over a decade ago.

Mr Donaldson was discovered shot dead inside his cottage in Co Donegal in April 2006.

The allegation was made by a man claiming to be a former Special Branch agent within the IRA on BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme.

It is believed the Real IRA carried out the killing.

Mr Adams said: "I specifically and categorically refute these unsubstantiated allegations.

"I will continue to support the family of Mr Donaldson to achieve truth and justice.

"Last night's allegations are part of the British security agencies ongoing attempts to smear republicans and cover-up their own actions.

"There is a need for all these agencies to fully co-operate with the Ombudsman's investigation into the role of the police in the events that led to the killing of Denis Donaldson and for the Gardaí to expedite their investigation to bring those responsible to justice."

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said the Spotlight programme was "a collection of discredited conspiracy theories which relied on the claims of an anonymous paid liar and British agent."

He said: "The programme makers have had no regard for the feelings of families of the victims of the conflict, including the family of Denis Donaldson."

The Ulster Unionist Party's Upper Bann MLA, Doug Beattie MC, has called on Mr Adams to take legal action against the BBC if the claims are not true.

He said: "If any other political leader on these islands was accused of the allegations made against Adams, they would have had to resign or at the very least stand aside. However, it seems that Sinn Fein leaders have no shame. From Martin McGuinness exercising Royal Prerogatives to Gerry Adams' silence on his brother's child sexual abuse when he was first told of it, what little credibility the Sinn Fein leadership had is dwindling away.

"The programme made two key claims. Firstly, that the IRA sanctioned the murder and then under pressure from Thomas (Slab) Murphy, Sinn Fein sanctioned the murder. A pertinent question is therefore, was the murder given political sanction to satisfy the 'good republican' Slab Murphy? These are very serious allegations indeed.

"I welcome the fact that the intelligence services so heavily infiltrated the leadership of Sinn Fein and as was made clear in last night's BBC Spotlight programme, 'agents of influence' led to the strategic defeat of the Provisional IRA."

(CD)