Farren: SF Should Come Clean On Donaldson, Stormontgate

Commenting on Sinn Fein’s expulsion of Denis Donaldson for allegedly being a British agent, SDLP North Antrim SDLP MLA Seán Farren challenged Sinn Féin locally as well as nationally to tell the truth.

Mr Farren said:

“In the SDLP’s recent meeting with the Attorney General it was made clear that the Stormontgate prosecution was not dropped because of any weakness in the evidence. We suspected that the public interest argument was a way of covering up for an informer. We don’t know whether Denis Donaldson was that particular informer. There is the distinct possibility, like so many cases in the past, that he is being used as a scapegoat to cover someone else.

“We can now understand why Sinn Féin was so eager to move on from this affair last week, but fortunately the media and others didn’t let them and has continued to ask questions.

“It is time for Sinn Fein to stop trying to cover up for the past and for themselves, as they are doing with the On-The-Run deal. Now that the truth is coming out we hope they will also face up to the truth of the Stakeknife affair and admit who knew what and when.

“There is now deep scepticism about what goes on in elements of the British government and the provisional leadership. The British government cannot retain credibility and continue to duck behind smokescreens called public interest.

“I call upon the Sinn Fein leadership in North Antrim to help clarify the situation so that people on the ground can decide for themselves what actually happened. It is the truth that sets us free, concealing it keeps us all in the dark and makes progress almost impossible. ”