Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has confirmed he was given the names of two senior party figures alleged to have been involved in the murder of prison officer Brian Stack.

However, Mr Adams said that he has not spoken to the two people involved about the claims.

Responding to questions Mr Adams said: “I’m telling you these are very, very serious charges. This man should not have been shot. He should not have died as a result of his injury. I’ve made that very, very, very clear.

"So it isn't my job to say, 'Did you do this or did you do that?' That leads to another question. The issue is An Garda Síochána should be dealing with this.

“This is not an election issue for us, by the way. No more than the other issues that have been raised.”

Long illness

“I’m the person who went and met with the Stack family and listened to the effect their father’s long illness and death had on them and particularly on their mum.

“So we will continue to try and deal with these issues in a way that brings closure for the families involved.”

Mr Stack was shot by the IRA in Dublin during the Troubles and died of his injuries 18 months later.

The victim’s son Austin said he has obtained credible information suggesting that two senior Sinn Féin figures were involved in the 1983 murder.

Meanwhile Mr Adams strongly criticised Michael Noonan for questioning who runs the party.

‘Too many questions’

In an interview with The Irish Times the Minister for Finance said there were too many questions surrounding the party.

Mr Noonan said: “There are too many events. Whether it is the suspicion that the leadership follows instruction from their men in west Belfast or whether the influence of the ‘Slab’ Murphys of this world along the Border or whether people involved in illegalities like cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering whether they’re out of Sinn Féin, once removed or whether they have some role it is very hard to know at the moment.

“I certainly don’t think they should be let near government.”

Mr Adams said the comments were “beyond contempt” and “deeply offensive”.

He said he would not sink to Mr Noonan who Mr Adams alleged was trying to frighten people from voting Sinn Féin.

Mr Adams said: “If you throw enough muck at people some of it will stick.”

The Sinn Féin leader said that the authority in Sinn Féin was its members and Mr Noonan knew that.

Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness also criticised Mr Noonan’s comments.

Irresponsible

He said they were “totally irresponsible remarks which take no account whatsoever of the impact they have on the North of the country”.

Mr McGuinness added: “The peace process is a very delicate flower and we have worked hard for 20 years to get it to where it is today.

"Do the people who make those remarks think for one minute Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster would be in government with me if they thought somebody else was dictating the agenda? Not in a million years."