@Override
  public boolean isUserInRole(Scope scope, String role) {
    String roleToTest = null;
    if (scope != null && scope.getRoleRefMap() != null)
      roleToTest = scope.getRoleRefMap().get(role);
    if (roleToTest == null) roleToTest = role;
    // Servlet Spec 3.1 pg 125 if testing special role **
    if ("**".equals(roleToTest.trim())) {
      // if ** is NOT a declared role name, the we return true
      // as the user is authenticated. If ** HAS been declared as a
      // role name, then we have to check if the user has that role
      if (!declaredRolesContains("**")) return true;
      else return _userIdentity.isUserInRole(role, scope);
    }

    return _userIdentity.isUserInRole(role, scope);
  }