But PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said there was no intelligence to suggest it was sanctioned by the organisation’s leadership.

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly delivered the graveside oration to Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane at Milltown Cemetery.

McFarlane, from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, was known for taking part in the biggest escape in UK prison history.

DUP MLA Phillip Brett said there was ‘not a scintilla’ of remorse from the republican party over McFarlane’s violent actions.

Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane, who oversaw the hunger strikes inside the Maze Prison, has died.

The High Court judge in Belfast this week threw out a claim brought by the party’s north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly against a journalist.

The case related two two radio interviews in which journalist Malachi O’Doherty had stated Mr Kelly had shot a prison officer during the Maze escape.