Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams today faces intense pressure to distance the party from criminal activity on the second day of the party's ardfheis in Dublin.
Delegates were in sombre mood yesterday as they reflected on the fallout from the Northern Bank heist, the uncovering of a massive money laundering rackets and the brutal murder of Robert McCartney in Belfast six weeks ago.
All have been connected to the IRA and have exposed the closeness of the connection between Sinn Fein and the paramilitary organisation.
In his keynote speech this evening, Mr Adams will have to spell out in clear terms how Sinn Fein can fully commit to democracy in order to join Northern Ireland's power-sharing talks.
Chief negotiator Martin McGuinness last evening indicated the gravity of the current situation in his opening address, when he warned of a crisis of confidence in the Republican movement that could unravel the Belfast Agreement.
Delegates later passed an emergency motion urging suspects in the McCartney murder to give themselves up and be answerable to the courts.
A courageous campaign for justice by his family has led to suspects being expelled from the IRA and suspended from Sinn Fein . Speaking on the McCartney motion, party justice spokesman Gerry Kelly said: "I support the McCartney family in demanding that those responsible should make themselves accountable for their actions."
Mr McGuinness had earlier said that he was outraged and saddened that IRA members were involved in the murder. The stabbing of the father-of-two has marked a significant turning point in the public perception of Republican criminality.
An Irish Timesopinion poll yesterday showed Mr Adams's personal rating has taken a battering while a poll today in the paper shows two thirds of respondents believe Sinn Fein and the IRA should split.
The survey carried out in the Republic, also shows a similar amount of respondents believe the IRA carried out the pre-Christmas Northern Bank heist.
Over half of respondents (a rise of 17 percentage points in six weeks) are also against Sinn Fein serving in a coalition Government if there was a General Election in the Republic tomorrow.
Party chiefs had planned this weekend's Ard Fheis get-together to be an opportunity to toast its centenary and to confidently look forward to upcoming Westminster and local elections in May.
Instead, a damaging chain of events has cast a long shadow over proceedings. A number of lively motions have already been debated, such as the European Constitution, dropping the voting age to 16 and boycotting the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Israel later this month.
All concerned are now waiting to see whether, during his hour-long televised presidential address at 5pm, Mr Adams will confront the tough questions facing his party.