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Agents of the state 'may have been involved in murders'

Bobby Storey arrives at the Roddy McCorley Social Club, west Belfast, yesterday with Gerry Adams TD, Martin McGuinness MLA, and Mary Lou McDonald TD PICTURE: Ann McManus
Bobby Storey arrives at the Roddy McCorley Social Club, west Belfast, yesterday with Gerry Adams TD, Martin McGuinness MLA, and Mary Lou McDonald TD PICTURE: Ann McManus Bobby Storey arrives at the Roddy McCorley Social Club, west Belfast, yesterday with Gerry Adams TD, Martin McGuinness MLA, and Mary Lou McDonald TD PICTURE: Ann McManus

SINN Féin has said "state agents" may have been involved in the murders that have led to the near collapse of the Assembly.

Deputy first minister Martin McGuinness made the remarks as he said those responsible for killing former IRA men Gerard 'Jock' Davison and Kevin McGuigan did not share his party's agenda or that of first minister Peter Robinson.

"The more I consider and the more I think about how all this began - the murders of two people, and our hearts absolutely go out to their families, Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan - you need to be stupid folks not to be asking the question whose agenda is best served by those murders," he said.

He said the killings had "caused huge problems for us within the political institutions".

"So I think serious questions have to be asked about whose agenda was served by those murders, particularly as we all know that the prospect that agents were involved, people who are hostile to the peace process, who are hostile to Sinn Féin's involvement in the political institutions."

Mr McGuinness was speaking as his party held a press conference in west Belfast where its northern chairman Bobby Storey spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest and subsequent release by police.

Mr Storey, who has signalled an intention to sue Chief Constable George Hamilton, would not reveal what he was asked during interviews saying that was "now a matter of legal proceedings between myself, my legal representative and eventually the chief constable".

"At no stage was any evidence put to me, at no stage was any specific intelligence put to me," he added saying he had "grave concerns" about the timing of his arrest.

Although Sinn Féin maintained his detention was "wrongful", the party - including Mr Storey - reiterated their support for the PSNI and urged those with relevant information to contact police.

Party president Gerry Adams said the response of Sinn Féin to how the current crisis had been handled by the police may have surprised supporters and opponents but insisted the "very measured response" was appropriate.

"The issues in relation to policing, we will raise," he said.

"The issues which have to do with the mandate that all of us have been given is our primary focus. We don't want to say anything which will play into the hands of the wreckers.

"At the same time I am very conscious that nationalists and republicans watching this and unionists that want this to work watching this may expect us to be more aggressive or assertive or frank around the calamity that has been contrived but our job is to try and steer a course and use whatever wisdom or experience we have in a wise way.

"But have no doubt that we are going to raise all of these matters in a forensic and consistent and very vocal way."

Mr Adams also accused the taoiseach and British prime minister of being "detached" from the current process.

He called on taoiseach Enda Kenny to "make the north a priority".

"Not withstanding the work of the minister of foreign affairs, both the prime minister in England and the taoiseach have become detached from this process, have virtually abandoned their responsibilities as co-equal guarantors, of agreements and institutions and protocols that have been set in international agreements and voted for by the people from this island.

"Clumsy interventions that we have seen over the last week at a time of crisis are no substitute for the type of strategic consistency and ongoing engagement from the two principals that is required.

"Of course the parties here in the north have the bulk of the work to do but the minister of foreign affairs has pointed out, and I agree with him entirely, the north is a special case."

A political crisis erupted last month when Chief Constable George Hamilton said he believed "current" members of the IRA had been involved in the killing of Mr McGuigan.

That led to the Ulster Unionist Party walking out of the executive while all DUP minister bar Arlene Foster left their ministerial posts last week.

Mrs Foster is acting as first minister while Peter Robinson steps aside.

All party-talks are due to resume today in a bid to resolve the current fallout.