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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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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 |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| A delegation from the party met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday to discuss the police probe into the killing. | A delegation from the party met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday to discuss the police probe into the killing. |
| Senior Sinn Féin member Gerry Kelly said the chief constable needed to "follow the evidence". | Senior Sinn Féin member Gerry Kelly said the chief constable needed to "follow the evidence". |
| He added that his party would support the investigation. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Committed | Committed |
| On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder. | On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder. |
| Mr Kelly said the chief constable had agreed that Sinn Féin is in support of the police. | |
| "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. | "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. |
| "Sinn Féin's commitment to peaceful and democratic progress is beyond question." | |
| He added that the party had raised with Mr Hamilton "concerns about a number of speculative and unhelpful comments made recently". | |
| The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday. | The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday. |
| Party leader Mike Nesbitt said afterwards it was "clear the IRA still exists". | Party leader Mike Nesbitt said afterwards it was "clear the IRA still exists". |
| Skeleton | Skeleton |
| He said Sinn Féin's credibility was "in tatters" and that it needed to "accept some responsibility" for Mr McGuigan Sr's killing. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The DUP is due to meet the chief constable later on Saturday. |