Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, said he was very sceptical about the RUC Chief Constable's remarks about the IRA.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan said yesterday the IRA was involved in the killing of a north Belfast taxidriver, Mr Charles Bennett (22), found shot in the head off the Falls Road on July 30th.
Speaking to reporters in Derry, Mr McGuinness said he believed the IRA's ceasefire was still intact. "What you have to understand is that Sinn Fein's position is that we accept absolutely that the IRA cessation is intact. They have said so in the course of recent weeks and I have no reason to disbelieve that.
"In terms of Ronnie Flanagan, he is the Chief Constable of the most discredited paramilitary group in the whole of western Europe, he is anti-republican, he is anti-Sinn Fein and he is the head of a force which is effectively fighting for its survival in the course of the coming days. I would be very sceptical about anything that this man would say," he said.
Asked three times if he believed Sir Ronnie did not have evidence linking the IRA to the murder of Mr Bennett in July, and to the alleged attempts to import arms into Ireland, Mr McGuinness replied: "I don't know what the Chief Constable has. What I do know is that he has no credibility with me."
He added: "I don't know who was responsible for the killing of Mr Bennett. It is important to stress that it was a terrible tragedy for his family and our condolences go out to them."
Mr McGuinness also ruled out any moves to have Sinn Fein excluded from next month's review of the Belfast Agreement. "Sinn Fein cannot be excluded from the process. Sinn Fein is one of the largest political parties in the North. We have a very substantial electoral mandate, we represent in the region of 150,000 people, so that is a non-runner, that is not going to happen".