Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, has stated that "whoever" was responsible for the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery has damaged both his party and the peace process.
Mr McGuinness continued to deny IRA involvement in the crime and also rounded on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, for stating that the Sinn Féin leadership was aware that the IRA was planning the robbery even as it was in intense negotiations with the British and Irish governments.
Mr McGuinness went further in his comments yesterday by denouncing in strong terms the organisation that staged the robbery.
Should PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde be able to substantiate his allegation that the IRA was behind the robbery, then Mr McGuinness's comments would be tantamount to Sinn Féin criticism of the IRA.
"Whoever carried out the robbery are also hostile to the Sinn Féin agenda and the peace process, and under no circumstances should any of those people get their way in the ongoing discussions which will have to take place if we are to resolve our political difficulties," said Mr McGuinness.
"Gerry Adams and I work on the basis that you can't tell lies within the peace process. If you tell lies you get caught out and then irreparable damage is done to the peace process."
Mr McGuinness said he was "both perplexed and indeed very angry" at Mr Ahern's comments on Sunday that the Sinn Féin leadership was aware of the planned robbery during the negotiations aimed at restoring devolution.
"We have always participated in our discussions on the basis of honesty and being very straightforward about what we were trying to do. I reject absolutely any suggestion whatsoever of dishonesty or double-dealing by Gerry Adams and myself," he added.
"I just cannot understand for the life of me, other than the explanation is more electoral than anything else, that [the Taoiseach] would say such a thing because it has no basis in fact," he added.
Mr Ahern, when referring to the Sinn Féin leadership, did not specifically name Mr McGuinness or the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams.
But Mr McGuinness said it was obvious that Mr Ahern's reference was to him, Mr Adams and the Sinn Féin policing spokesman, Mr Gerry Kelly, as they were the only three party negotiators who had face-to-face dealings with the Taoiseach.
"This Sinn Féin leadership will never give up on this peace process, no matter what obstacles are placed in our way, whether it be by bank robbers, by securocrats or by people in governments who have an eye to future elections," added Mr McGuinness.
Meanwhile, senior security sources last night said that about £18,000 in Northern Bank £100 notes that were yesterday recovered in the Craigavon area of Co Armagh were most likely not connected to the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery.
Two men were arrested and are being questioned in connection with the find.
One security source said it appeared likely the money was linked to some other robbery.
