BBC NEWS | UK | Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson
Tuesday, 4 April 2006, 20:02 GMT 21:02 UK
Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson
Former Sinn Fein member Denis Donaldson, who admitted spying for the British, has been found shot dead in the Republic of Ireland.
SINN FEIN PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS
The Sinn Fein leadership had said
Mr Donaldson was not in danger
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who spoke to the Donaldson family just before news of the death broke, said the killing had to be condemned.
"We are living in a different era, and in the future in which everyone could share."This killing seems to have been carried out by those who have not accepted that."
He added: "I want to disassociate Sinn Fein and indeed all those Republicans who support the peace process, if this man was murdered, from that killing."
IRA STATEMENT
"The IRA had no involvement whatsoever in the death of Denis Donaldson."
DOWNING STREET STATEMENT
"The prime minister condemns this as much as anyone but equally we note Gerry Adams has strenuously condemned this and distanced peace process republicans from it.
"Thursday's visit [Tony Blair's visit to Armagh to meet Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern] will go ahead as planned."
NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY PETER HAIN
"I am completely appalled by this barbaric act."
NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
"Nothing will deflect the government from its aim of ensuring political progress in Northern Ireland."
IRISH TAOISEACH BERTIE AHERN
"We condemn this brutal murder. The matter is now under investigation by An Garda Siochana.
"We hope that whoever was responsible for this callous act will be brought to justice as soon as possible."
DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY LEADER IAN PAISLEY
Mr Paisley said he had heard Mr Donaldson's hand had been cut off.
"If what I have heard is true that they cut his hand off, that would show that they were saying 'here is a hand that signed away, what we would say, his obligation to IRA/Sinn Fein and we will deal with him' - it looks like that sort of murder.
"There are serious talks that are going to take place and I would say that this has put a dark cloud over those talks.
"If this man has been murdered because of his connection with IRA/Sinn Fein and because of the past happenings, then it strikes a blow at what the two governments are trying to do - to say that the IRA has forsaken these ways and they are seeking peace."
ULSTER UNIONIST LEADER SIR REG EMPEY
"There was an inevitability about this. A lot of people both in the Republican movement and other organisations will sleep better in their beds knowing he is out of the way.
"Some people will see it as a tidying up of loose ends."