What the two sides are saying
SINN FÉIN argues that the exposing of Denis Donaldson as a British agent was part of a high level PSNI, MI5 and British government inner circle plot to wreck any chances of devolution being restored. The theory is that he was exposed as an agent so that he would be forced to flee Northern Ireland and that therefore the next Independent Monitoring Report would say the IRA was still active and still a threat to life and the security of these islands. Therefore there could be no deal between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
SECURITY SOURCES say Denis Donaldson, while a British agent, did not alert his handlers to the alleged Stormont spy ring, that this was done by another IRA informant. They say that despite Sinn Féin denials that a number of IRA or Sinn Féin members were involved in a Stormont spy ring, and that Sinn Féin allegations of Denis Donaldson acting as an agent provocateur to damage Sinn Féin and the IRA just doesn't stand up.