The man alleged to be the British army informer in the IRA known as 'Stakeknife' has issued a statement in Belfast protesting his innocence.
Mr Freddie Scappaticci, dressed in a checked shirt, spoke in the office of his solicitor Mr Michael Flanigan on Belfast's Falls Road.
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He said: "My statement basically is that I am Freddie Scappaticci.
"I am sitting here today with my solicitor. I am telling you that I am not guilty of any of these allegations.
"I have not left Northern Ireland since I was challenged by reporters on Saturday night.
"Nobody had the decency to ask me if any of these allegations were true and why the police had not come to question me about these allegations."
Mr Scappaticci said he did not know why he was accused of being "Stakeknife". He confirmed that he was involved in the republican movement 13 years ago but he had no involvement since then.
Before Mr Scappaticci spoke Mr Flanigan read out a statement on his behalf.
The statement said: "Mr Scappaticci appears here today to give the lie to continuing media speculation as to his whereabouts.
"He has not been in England and during the course of the past few days has not left Northern Ireland."
The statement added: "My client refuses to engage in challenging every statement made by an unnamed and apparently unnameable security source. "He repeats the contents of his statement released yesterday and in particular confirms that he is not and never has been in any sort of military, security or police custody.
"He has never been involved in any criminal activity and has a clear record.
"Mr Scappaticci was forced to leave on Sunday morning, not by reason of police or Army activity, nor by involvement of any paramilitary organisation; but solely (because) of the media onslaught upon his character."
The statement from Michael Flanigan Solicitors on Belfast's Falls Road said press coverage had been "reckless and extremely damaging" to Mr Scappaticci. It claimed the builder had been the subject of "very detailed but completely unsubstantiated allegations" from all branches of the media.
These press reports had "absolutely no regard to Mr Scappaticci's position or the harm which such publication" would cause him or his family. The statement said: "I have been instructed to examine all the material recently published with a view to defamation proceedings.
"The past three days have been very traumatic for Mr Scappaticci who now intends to resume his private life."
Senior Sinn Féin member MR Gerry Kelly later said "Stakeknife" may exist but called for those who had alleged Mr Scappaticci was the agent to be identified.
He also insisted that there was no reason for the republican movement toquestion the man at the centre of the spying claims.
He said: "What I am arguing for is that files need to be opened on thosefaceless and nameless people. We need full disclosure on what is going on.
"Mr Scappaticci was very categoric about what he said. All I know is that thepeople who made the accusations certainly have an agenda in doing so.
"I have no reason to want to speak to Mr Scappaticci and I don't thinkrepublicans will want to do it either."
Mr Kelly added that it would be up to the man accused of being "Stakeknife" todecide whether he could still live at his home in west Belfast.
He said: "Mr Scappaticci will make that decision himself. I am sitting heresaying that these accusations were made by faceless and nameless people."