A war-of-words has broken out between Martin McGuinness and unionist politicians after the deputy first minister criticized the arrest of five men in the Ronan Kerr murder investigation.
Last week, 200 police officers were involved in several raids in counties Derry, Tyrone and Antrim, investigating the murder of the PSNI officer who was killed by a car bomb outside his home in Omagh on April 2. Dissident republicans were blamed for the murder.
Five men were arrested last Tuesday in connection with the murder but were later released without charge.
A 22-year-old man from Coalisland in County Tyrone was one of those arrested. The deputy First Minister said his arrest had caused anger in east Tyrone.
"This was according to the police a major operation, it was described as such by the media and there was extensive media attention placed on homes and on business premises," he said.
"From speaking to the family of the young man and the local community, it is obvious to me that we are dealing with a situation where a young man who was completely innocent, and who was in fact, in the USA at the time of the killing of Ronan Kerr."
McGuinness said it was very important that innocent people and people who are clearly seen to be innocent "should not be arrested in this fashion."
"They were basically held just over one day. That doesn't say to me that this was a serious attempt to find those who were responsible for the killing of Ronan Kerr," he said.
Mr. McGuinness reiterated his support for the police, but he criticized their investigation, saying last week's raids "raises very serious questions about the conduct of how that inquiry is continuing."
However, Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the PSNI investigation was complex and would take considerable time to complete.
"The Policing Board is the appropriate place for scrutiny to take place, particularly during a live and sensitive investigation. For that reason, the PSNI will not be commenting further," he said.
Hitting back at Mr. McGuinness' remarks, DUP East Derry MP, Gregory Campbell said: "If there are mechanisms which the police carried out that local people find difficult to understand, or want them explained, then there are mechanisms for establishing that through the Policing Board," he said.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said the first minister's "republican mask" had slipped.
"Can anyone imagine a senior political figure coming out with such trenchant criticism of police officers conducting an investigation into the brutal murder of a young constable anywhere else in the United Kingdom?" he asked.
