A report in a British newspaper has alleged that up to five British informers operated in the higher-ranks of the IRA.
The report, in today's Observernewspaper reports that Steak Knife, an alleged British spy in the IRA, was said by former RUC Special Branch officers to be the least important of five senior double agents.
The report cites British Army and Garda Síochána sources as corroboration for the claim. Garda sources are reported to have told the paper that senior republican, the late John Joe Magee, also worked for the security forces.
The report suggests that former members of the security services, disaffected with their treatment following the restructuring of the RUC, are in possession of sensitive photographic material and transcripts and are threatening to reveal the names of more informers.
Sinn Féin has remained sceptical of the allegations over the last week. Mr Adams, speaking in Belfast on Friday, blamed the media for accepting the word of "faceless people who have given us killings on Bloody Sunday in Derry, on New Lodge Road in Belfast, in Ballymurphy, in Springhill"
Mr Adams seemed to suggest that some form of anti-republican conspiracy was behind the allegations.