Gardai seek spy death adjournment

Mr Donaldson outside his remote cottage (Picture: Sunday World)

Irish police have asked for a hearing into the death of Denis Donaldson to be adjourned because they are considering criminal charges.

The former senior Sinn Fein member was found murdered in a cottage in County Donegal last April. He had been shot.

He admitted in December 2005 he became a paid British agent in the 1980s.

The dead man's family have said their confidence in the gardai investigation has been "severely undermined" over the last year and a half.

It is understood they have concerns about whether or not Mr Donaldson was adequately warned about any perceived threats to his life.

They are also understood to have concerns about whether the cottage in which he was living was under electronic surveillance by gardai or British security services.

Superintendent Eugene McGovern told the coroner's court in Letterkenny Mr Donaldson died in a violent fashion in suspicious circumstances.

He said that the death was the subject of an ongoing comprehensive and extensive garda investigation.

He requested an adjournment of the inquest on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered in the case.

Solicitors representing Mr Donaldson's family said they had received a letter from the gardai this month indicating that his death was still the subject of a criminal investigation.

The letter also indicated that no definitive motive for the crime had been established, or suspect identified, and that the file remains open.