The family of Denis Donaldson has stated that they accept the Provisional IRA's assurance that it did not kill the double agent, who was murdered near Glenties, Co Donegal, on Tuesday.
The Donaldson family, from west Belfast, yesterday issued a statement through solicitors Madden and Finucane, saying it believed the IRA.
"We acknowledge the speedy statement from the IRA disassociating themselves from this murder. We believe that statement to be true," said the family.
The Donaldsons said they did not know who murdered Mr Donaldson but indicated that the British intelligence services who "ran him" as a spy and newspapers who disclosed his hideaway cottage near Glenties must bear some of the responsibility. "On Tuesday, April 4th, Denis was murdered. We do not know by whom. But the difficult situation which our family has been put in is the direct result of the activities of the special branch and British intelligence agencies," the statement said.
"In December, Denis left his home in Belfast and moved to Donegal where it was his desire that he be left alone to rebuild his life. Unfortunately, he continued to be pursued by sections of the media, some of whom gave details about his whereabouts," it said.
"We would ask those politicians and media commentators who have sought to use this tragedy to score cheap political points to stop doing so."
The Donaldsons said that recent days were very difficult for the family and described the murder victim as a "loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather and a good brother".
They expressed their "deep gratitude to friends, neighbours and the wider community for the compassion, solidarity and sympathy given to our family throughout this ordeal".
No funeral details were given. The family said: "In the next few days, Denis will return home to Belfast to be with his family for one last time and to be buried.
"The funeral will be private and we would ask the media to respect our privacy at this time."
