Belfastman admits to republican involvement 13 years ago, but denies he is "Stakeknife"
Mr Freddie Scappaticci appeared yesterday at the Falls Road offices of his solicitor to reiterate his denial that he is the top British agent "Stakeknife".
He was accompanied by Mr Michael Flanigan, his legal representative who issued the first statement on Tuesday which rejected claims of being an informer.
Mr Scappaticci said he had not been outside Northern Ireland since the weekend nor had he been in military or any other type of custody.
He said he had no idea why he had been linked to "Stakeknife" but he did admit to republican involvement 13 years ago. Mr Scappaticci's involvement in 1990 is on the public record following criminal proceedings involving Mr Danny Morrison.
Mr Scappaticci's solicitor also read a statement yesterday. In it he said his client had appeared before journalists "to give the lie to continuing media speculation as to his whereabouts".
Mr Flanigan said Mr Scappaticci had not been in England nor had he left Northern Ireland since his name first appeared in the Sunday newspapers and on a intelligence-related website as being linked to "Stakeknife".
The solicitor said his client would not be challenging every statement made by an unnamed and apparently unnameable British security source.
"He has never been involved in any criminal activity and has a clear record," he said, adding that his client had not left his west Belfast home on Sunday morning because of security force activity or due to any influence from any paramilitary organisation. He said Mr Scappaticci left solely because of the "media onslaught upon his character".
He continued: "A huge volume of very detailed but completely unsubstantiated allegations have been published by all branches of the media with absolutely no regard to Mr Scappaticci's position or the harm which such publication could cause him or his family."
Reports would be examined with a view to defamation proceedings, he said, adding that Mr Scappaticci now wanted to resume his private life.
Afterwards, Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly held a press conference a short distance away and called for "full disclosure of these faceless and unaccountable agencies" which had spread the stories concerning Mr Scappaticci.
Mr Kelly accused "securocrats" of an extensive briefing of British and Irish journalists about Mr Scappaticci and of making "a raft of serious and unsubstantiated allegations".
He continued: "\ has been accepted and repeated as fact by a large section of the media without question, without criticism."
He went on to assert the allegations were being put about by the same people who had "killed Pat Finucane, 'ran' [UDA mole] Brian Nelson continue to control and direct the unionist paramilitaries, continue to target and gather intelligence \ at every turn of the peace process maliciously leak and brief misinformation to create crises and to bolster anti-Agreement elements".
Mr Kelly said "there was a clear need for full disclosure of the activities of these faceless and unaccountable agencies. That case is now overwhelming."