A statement from the families of George McBrearty (shot by SAS in Creggan in May 1981), Paddy Deery (killed in an explosion in Creggan October 1987), Patsy Duffy (shot by British Army in Maureen Avenue in November 1978) and Brian Coyle (killed in an explosion in July 1986 in the Bogside) have hit out at comments made by Mr. Adams at a public meeting in Co. Tyrone on Saturday.
"At a Sinn Fein meeting in Galbally, Gerry McGeogh (veteran republican, former gunrunner and anti-PSNI activist] pointed out that the current direction being taken by the Sinn Fein leadership is the opposite of the republican tenets held by fallen volunteers in the conflict at the times of their deaths.
"Gerry Adams mocking reply to Gerry McGeogh - "do you have a Ouija board" - was in very bad taste.
"It marks a new low in the debate on policing. We never thought a so-called republican leader would stoop so low as to take cheap shots regarding fallen volunteers.
"To speak disrespectfully of the dead volunteers is shameful and he should apologise immediately."
In a letter to the editor in today's edition of the 'Journal', the Deery, Duffy and Coyle families show their support to the McBrearty family who spoke frankly in last Tuesday's edition in opposition to Sinn Fein's plans to back the PSNI.
"We too have felt a deep sense of betrayal at the direction taken by the Sinn Fein leadership. We have been silent until now because we have seen how voices of dissent have been subjected to ridicule, intimidation and smear campaigns.
"W have received invitations to the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis and another political briefing. We will treat these invitations with caution. We do not want to be used as political window-dressing for the endorsement of the RUC/PSNI," the letter reads.
Meanwhile, the brother of George McBrearty (24) - who along Charles 'Pop' Maguire (20) died in a hail of British Army bullets as he approached a car on Lonemoor Road at the height of the 1981 hunger strikes - has called a meeting of all republican ex-prisoners in the North West for tonight.
Speaking to the 'Journal', Danny McBrearty said: "Given the ongoing debate on policing in the republican community and signs that the Sinn Fein leadership are about to endorse joining the RUC/PSNI, I feel that concerned Republicans have to organise now.
"I am appealing to all ex-internees and republican socialist POWs who have been through the system this last 36 years to contact me with regard to attending a meeting on Tuesday, January 23 at 8pm sharp." For Further details ring Danny McBrearty on 07734108189.