No substance to Ellis murder claims, says SF

Sinn Féin has said it rejects “unsubstantiated allegations” made in newly-released British state papers dating from 30 years ago that its TD for Dublin North, Dessie Ellis, was involved in 50 murders during the Troubles.

The party said those who made the claims are “the same, faceless securocrats who murdered Pat Finucane”, referring to the Belfast solicitor whose death at the hands of loyalists in 1989 was found to have involved British state collusion.

“Irish Republicans do not attach any value to claims made in secret documents emanating from the British secret services, who were responsible for countless murders in Ireland during the course of the conflict,” a Sinn Féin statement said.