"The revelation that Denis Donaldson is now claiming to be an informer to the security services and that the spy ring was made up are simply another twist to the lies that rest at the heart of the government's actions here.
"Denis Donaldson, if he was a police agent, never told his handlers about the spy ring. The Police Special Branch originally uncovered it in March 2002 and subsequently discovered Denis Donaldson to be in possession of papers that could be of use to terrorists. Any informer or agent is duty-bound to inform. The fact that he had not only proves that he was playing both sides for money and power. He was, in the jargon of the profession, a double agent.
"Only Sinn Féin would have the brass neck to claim that the Stormont spy ring was actually the work of the British. This is just nonsense. Sinn Féin's agenda was and remains to wreck Northern Ireland. Spying on the government was an integral part of that strategy." - Councillor Paul Givan: DUP
"We still haven't heard the truth about why that case collapsed and we saw Sinn Féin spin that in a particular way.
"They were here in Stormont last week doing a press conference with Denis Donaldson. We know how incredible Sinn Féin's spin was a week ago so why should we believe Sinn Féin's spin of this weekend?
"It is quite clear that the so-called public interest was the protection of persons who would be compromised by the evidence that would come out. In that case I don't believe Denis Donaldson was the key person being protected. I think there is something more, something wider.
"It is not us who are trying to bury the distant or the recent past. It is typical of Sinn Féin when they face difficulty or challenge, all they do is last out and blame everybody. It wasn't us who appeared here a week ago with Denis Donaldson. Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams look foolish and stupid now." - Councillor tim attwood: SDLP
"There was a time, seven years ago, when people from all walks of life were determined to move on.
"A lot of hard decisions were taken and people determined to put the past behind them for the sake of peace and future generations.
"Clearly Sinn Féin and the British government have come to an arrangement.
"Is 'Stormontgate' a hiccup in the process, or a carefully orchestrated set of manoeuvres to reinforce it?
"The people of Northern Ireland are tired of being manipulated by forces operating outside the normal rules of a democracy.
"Perhaps this is the reason why fewer people are voting.
"The only way to restore confidence is to have a complete and independent investigation into the whole affair – a public enquiry.
"Of course, the government are resisting it and we may not get the whole truth from it, but what is the alternative?" - Councillor Basil mccrea: UUP
"There is now a huge onus on the British government to deal with those within the ranks of the British policing and intelligence agencies who are actively working to destroy the peace process.
"These are the people who have continually worked against peace in this country to the very point where they managed to force the collapse of local democratically constructed institutions.
"No amount of spin from senior British politicians or apologists of political policing such as Hugh Orde can conceal the fact that the entire sordid 'Stormontgate' affair was masterminded by PSNI Special Branch to bring down the institutions at Stormont and cause maximum damage to the peace process.
"These people can say what they like but the fact remains that the documentation central to the so-called 'Stormontgate' business was discovered in the West Belfast home of a man now known to be a long-standing British agent.
"In other words, the only espionage activity was that orchestrated by elements within the British establishment.
"Hugh Orde should remember that by his own admission he was given no prior knowledge of the high profile raid on the Sinn Féin offices at Stormont.
"Perhaps this prompted his later assertion that there are those within the ranks of the PSNI bitterly opposed to changes in the force.
"He would do well to reflect on the events of the last week which demonstrate that the same people are as opposed to political change and will go to whatever lengths imaginable in their attempts to undermine change." - Councillor michael browne: SF
