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Kevin McGuigan murder: Sinn Féin says police chief stands by 'PIRA members' involvement' in killing Kevin McGuigan murder: Sinn Féin says police chief stands by 'PIRA members' involvement' in killing
(about 1 hour later)
Sinn Féin has said PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton stands by his force's statement that members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.Sinn Féin has said PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton stands by his force's statement that members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.
It follows a meeting between a Sinn Féin delegation and Mr Hamilton on Saturday. A delegation from the party met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday to discuss the police probe into the killing.
Gerry Kelly, who was part of the delegation, said Mr Hamilton needed to "follow the evidence" and that his party will support the investigation. Senior Sinn Féin member Gerry Kelly said the chief constable needed to "follow the evidence".
He said the killing must stop. He added that his party would support the investigation.
Mr McGuigan Sr, a former IRA member, died after he was shot at his home in east Belfast last week.Mr McGuigan Sr, a former IRA member, died after he was shot at his home in east Belfast last week.
Mr Kelly said the chief constable had agreed that Sinn Féin is in support of the police and is wedded to the political process.
The North Belfast MLA said his party had "rejected any suggestion" the IRA was involved in the killing of Mr McGuigan Sr.
He said Sinn Féin had "raised concerns about a number of speculative and unhelpful comments made recently".
The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday.
Following their meeting, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said it was "clear the IRA still exists".
He said Sinn Féin's credibility was "in tatters".
A number of the other Northern Ireland political parties are expected to meet the chief constable later.
On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder.
Mr Adams said the killing of the father-of-nine was carried out by "criminals who do not represent republicanism".
The BBC understands that police believe members of the Provisional IRA co-operated with a group called Action Against Drugs to carry out the murder.The BBC understands that police believe members of the Provisional IRA co-operated with a group called Action Against Drugs to carry out the murder.
Detectives believe it was in revenge for the killing of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison in Belfast in May. Committed
Threaten On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder.
Mr Adams said speculation that the IRA played a part in Mr McGuigan's murder was wrong as the organisation had "left the stage" when it ordered an end to its armed campaign in 2005. Mr Kelly said the chief constable had agreed that Sinn Féin is in support of the police and is committed to the political process.
Mr Adams criticised those who he said had "opportunistically and cynically seized" on the murder to "undermine Sinn Féin's mandate and the peace process". "We rejected any suggestion the IRA was involved in the killing of Kevin McGuigan. The IRA stood down over 10 years ago," the North Belfast MLA said.
First Minister Peter Robinson had earlier said he would discuss the prospect of excluding Sinn Féin from the executive with other Northern Ireland parties. He added that Sinn Féin had raised with Mr Hamilton "concerns about a number of speculative and unhelpful comments made recently".
Mr Adams said: "Those who threaten to take action against Sinn Féin in the assembly and executive have no basis whatsoever for this. The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday.
"Sinn Féin's mandate and the rights and entitlements of our electorate deserve exactly the same respect and protection as anyone else's." Party leader Mike Nesbitt said afterwards it was "clear the IRA still exists".
A 60-year-old man arrested on Friday in connection with Mr McGuigan's murder was later released. Skeleton
He said Sinn Féin's credibility was "in tatters" and that it needed to "accept some responsibility" for Mr McGuigan Sr's killing.
"They continue to insult our intelligence by claiming no IRA involvement in this latest murder," Mr Nesbitt said.
"The nature of the political implications remains open as the police investigation progresses, but Sinn Féin are endangering the political process by refusing to come clean about the IRA."
After the SDLP's meeting with the chief constable, its leader Alasdair McDonnell said the "skeleton" of the IRA remains in existence.
But he said the evidence was not there to collapse the assembly.
That came in response to comments from First Minister Peter Robinson, who said he would discuss the prospect of excluding Sinn Féin from the executive with other Northern Ireland parties.
The DUP is due to meet the chief constable later on Saturday.