THE vice president of Sinn Fein, Mr Pat Doherty, and the ardcomhairle member, Mr Martin McGuinness, have both declined to "condemn" the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.
Mr Doherty said on RTE's Questions and Answers programme last night that he believed the IRA statement which categorically denied involvement by the organisation in the Adare shootings. However, when pressed on whether he would condemn the killing of Garda McCabe, he refused to use the phrase.
Interviewed on BBC's Newsnight programme, Mr McGuinness also said that he accepted the IRA statement. But, when asked specifically if he condemned the murder, he said that he did not intend to allow words to be put into his mouth.