Almost two thirds of people now believe the IRA was responsible for the recent robbery of £26.5 million from the Northern Bank in Belfast according to the latest the Irish Times/TNSmrbi poll.
Some 64 per cent of voters said they believed the IRA was responsible, an increase of 17 percentage points on a January poll. 11 per cent said they believed the IRA was not responsible.
Fewer people (41 per cent of voters) now believe that that Sinn Féin is committed to working towards the ending of all paramilitary violence and criminal activity a drop of five percentage points on the January poll. 39 per cent of voters said they believed Sinn Féin was not commited to ending paramilitary violence.
In the six weeks since the last opinion poll, the fallout from the Northern Bank raid, the murder of Robert McCartney in a Belfast pub last month and the collapse of the peace process appears to be taking its toll on the public's belief in Sinn Féin.
56 per cent of voters (an increase of 17 percentage points) said they felt it would be unaccetable for for Sinn Féin to serve in a coalition Government if there was a General Election in the South tomorrow. Only 28 per cent of voters felt it acceptable.
However most people still believe negotiations are the only way forward.
62 per cent of voters (the same as in the January poll) felt the Irish and British governments should still negotiate with Sinn Féin regardless of whether they are satisfied there has been a verified end to criminal activity by the IRA.
30 per cent (an increase of 4 percentage points) felt the Governments should suspend negotiations.
The Irish Times/TNSmrbi poll was taken last Monday and Tuesday among 1,000 voters throughout every constituency in the State.