Provisional IRA members in the North are calling for their leadership to clearly state its position on Freddie Scappaticci, writes Suzanne Breen, Senior Northern Correspondent.
Grassroots activists say they have been left deeply confused by conflicting claims about Mr Scappaticci's whereabouts and allegiances.
Most believed he was a British agent.
They are demanding clarification from their leadership. A west Belfast IRA member said: "We need our leadership to be straight about what is going on. If, as they are saying, Scappaticci is still in Ireland, why hasn't he appeared at a press conference to deny these claims?"
Another west Belfast IRA member said: "The vast majority of activists believe Scappaticci is 'Stakeknife'. Everyone certainly thinks he has a case to answer.
"It's not enough for our leadership to point to Scappaticci's statement to his solicitor. That proves nothing. They seem to be washing their hands of the whole affair and demanding answers from the British.
"We don't expect anything else but misdirection from the British, but we do expect our own leaders to deliver. They are playing down his role within the IRA.
"It's complete nonsense to portray him as an insignificant figure. We all know that wasn't the case.
"This man held a leadership position within the IRA . . . It's people like us who were at huge risk if he was an informer. If the leadership are convinced he wasn't, why don't they put our minds at rest for once and for all?"
Another west Belfast republican said: "The current co-ordinated confusion suits the IRA leadership. They are hoping that with the passing of time, the sting is taken out of the situation and volunteers calm down. The situation can then be minimised.
"The leadership will then say Scappaticci wasn't that important, there have been other informers, and they didn't wreck the IRA."
Most republicans believed Mr Scappaticci was a British agent.
"I would love if it wasn't so," said a south Belfast IRA member. "But there is just too much that says otherwise."