Reacting to Gerry Adams’s claim that "The Chief Constable made a huge mistake bringing in undercover British army units” TUV chairman Ivor McConnell said:

“Gerry Adams has – again – revealed that the Republicans who the DUP partner in government have at best an ambiguous attitude to attacks upon the forces of the sate.

“These latest outrageous comments should act as a wakeup call to any Unionist foolish enough to be taken in by Sinn Fein/IRA’s conditional acceptance of the rule of law. Adams has laid the blame for Saturday night’s brutal murders not at the feet of so-called “dissidents” but at the feet of the Chief Constable and the Special Forces.

“Far from accepting that he was wrong to back up the demand of Joint First Minister Martin McGuinness that Special Forces were a “threat” Adams claims that Hugh Orde made a “huge mistake” in bringing in undercover soldiers. He goes further saying, “You don't understand the history if you don't appreciate that the involvement of these units in the past, totally unaccountable, has led to the same kind of suffering that unfortunately is being endured at this time by the families of the two British soldiers".

“What outrageous comments! There were already numerous question marks hanging over the Republican reaction to this attack – chief among them being if Sinn Fein/IRA will hand over the names of all those who left mainstream Republicanism to form the Real IRA – but this takes the issue to a entirely new level.

“Any Unionists worth their salt would never have gone into government with the IRA’s political wing in the first place. However, if they remain there in the light of these latest comments ordinary Unionists will, thankfully, have a change to pass their judgment in June.”