Persistent claims that IRA racketeering provides funding for Sinn Féin has been angrily rejected today by the party's president Mr Gerry Adams.
"I can tell you categorically that Sinn Féin is not funded by the IRA, Sinn Fein funds ourselves and resources ourselves," he told reporters at a news conference in Belfast.
The suspicion that the party has financial links to the IRA has been circulating for some time but came to the surface when the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, made the allegation public some weeks ago.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern last week said "Sinn Féin and the IRA are two sides of the same coin" but said there is no evidence the party benefits from paramilitary funding.
Mr Adams today accused Mr McDowell of "abusing his position".
"I've said to the Minister of Justice he should produce the evidence for these allegations. He hasn't done it, and he's had plenty of opportunities," he said.
He made the comments at the launch of the party's agenda for the review of the Belfast Agreement which begins next week.
PA