Paddy Kavanagh, a former republican prisoner who was released from Portlaoise Prison under the Good Friday Agreement, claims 'always to have been very open with my republican beliefs,' later became involved with the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.
Mr. Kavanagh told the 'Journal': "Several years ago due to an emotional crisis in my life I left Derry in order to recuperate and I ended all my republican activities.
"In my absence a smear campaign that the British would have been proud of was started branding me an informer.
"This was quickly nipped in the bud by my former comrades but those behind it continued to try and brand me with the most shameful tag a republican can be called - the name of an informer.
"I detest the informer even more than I detested the occupying enemy as I have seen too many good republicans destroyed by these creature's actions."
Mr. Kavanagh continued: "My own personal belief is that the smears directed at me were done by people who were carrying on the work of the British enemy in trying to destroy and criminalise true republicans.
"To bear a cross is something I can do myself with all the strength and wisdom that my years of experience in the republican struggle have taught me but it is unjust to ask my children to bear the stigma of their father being an informer so that is why I am speaking out.
"Some of my children have encouraged me to publicly and openly challenge the scurrilous allegations so that the pride they feel in their father as a republican will not be diminished in any way."
The Derry man went on: "Those quislings who sold out the republican struggle live in the dark and the sewers where they belong and have no right to attack a real republican.
"I will repeat it again and again. I am no informer, never would be and never could be, all I am doing now is making my position clear as all I want now is to be left alone to get on with my life."