Sinn Fein British agent shot dead

BBC News ^ | 4 April 2006

[bd476]

Denis Donaldson was expelled from
Sinn Fein in December

Mr Donaldson was expelled from the party last December after admitting he was a paid British spy for 20 years.

The IRA issued a statement saying it had "no involvement whatsoever" in Mr Donaldson's death in County Donegal.

Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern described the death as a "brutal murder", while NI Secretary Peter Hain said it was "barbaric".

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he wanted to "disassociate (his party) and all republicans who support the peace process from this killing".

The death of Mr Donaldson came hours before a planned visit to Northern Ireland by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern to unveil their blueprint for reviving the assembly at Stormont.

A Downing Street spokesman said that Mr Blair "strongly condemned" the killing and had noted Mr Adams' statement of condemnation.

---

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

4 October 2002: Three men including Mr Donaldson arrested following raid on Sinn Fein's Stormont office. Power-sharing executive collapses and government restores direct rule to NI a week later

8 December 2005: Charges against three men dropped "in the public interest"

16 December 2005: Sinn Fein says Mr Donaldson was a "British agent" and expels him from the party: he later says he worked as a spy since the 1980s Government and police reject the party's claim raid was politically motivated

4 April 2006: Donaldson found shot dead in County Donegal

---

Irish justice minister Michael McDowell said he understood a neighbour had found Mr Donaldson's body on the floor of his house with a gunshot wound to the head.

He said that he had been lying there for some time and was last seen alive on Monday evening by Irish police.

Mr Donaldson moved out of his Belfast home last December, and had been living in a run-down cottage without electricity or running water in County Donegal.

His body was found near the village of Glenties at about 1700 BST.

Mr Donaldson had been Sinn Fein's head of administration at Stormont before his 2002 arrest over alleged spying led to its collapse.

Mr Donaldson and two others were acquitted of charges last December "in the public interest".

One week later, Sinn Fein expelled Mr Donaldson from the party.

At the time, he told a news conference that he was recruited in the 1980s as a paid British agent and deeply regretted his activities.

He said there had not been a republican spy ring at Stormont.

Gerry Adams told the same news conference that Mr Donaldson was not under any threat from the republican movement.

Mr Adams said on Tuesday he had spoken to the Donaldson family just before news of his death broke.

He said he was not prepared to speculate on who might have been responsible.

"It has to be condemned. We are living in a different era, and in the future in which everyone could share," he said.

"This killing seems to have been carried out by those who have not accepted that," he said.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said Mr Donaldson's death would be a setback for the political process.

"If this man has been murdered because of his connection with the IRA/Sinn Fein, and because of the past happenings, then it strikes a blow at what the two governments are trying to do," he said.

[OldFriend]

Peter King's favorite group, the IRA

[Gay State Conservative]

The IRA issued a statement saying it had "no involvement whatsoever" in Mr Donaldson's death in County Donegal.

Yah,sure...you filthy,psychopathic Marxist murderers.

[bd476]

BBC NEWS | UK | Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson

Tuesday, 4 April 2006, 20:02 GMT 21:02 UK

Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson

Former Sinn Fein member Denis Donaldson, who admitted spying for the British, has been found shot dead in the Republic of Ireland.

SINN FEIN PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS

The Sinn Fein leadership had said
Mr Donaldson was not in danger

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who spoke to the Donaldson family just before news of the death broke, said the killing had to be condemned.

"We are living in a different era, and in the future in which everyone could share.

"This killing seems to have been carried out by those who have not accepted that."

He added: "I want to disassociate Sinn Fein and indeed all those Republicans who support the peace process, if this man was murdered, from that killing."

IRA STATEMENT

"The IRA had no involvement whatsoever in the death of Denis Donaldson."

DOWNING STREET STATEMENT

"The prime minister condemns this as much as anyone but equally we note Gerry Adams has strenuously condemned this and distanced peace process republicans from it.

"Thursday's visit [Tony Blair's visit to Armagh to meet Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern] will go ahead as planned."

NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY PETER HAIN

"I am completely appalled by this barbaric act."

NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE

"Nothing will deflect the government from its aim of ensuring political progress in Northern Ireland."

IRISH TAOISEACH BERTIE AHERN

"We condemn this brutal murder. The matter is now under investigation by An Garda Siochana.

"We hope that whoever was responsible for this callous act will be brought to justice as soon as possible."

DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY LEADER IAN PAISLEY

Mr Paisley said he had heard Mr Donaldson's hand had been cut off.

"If what I have heard is true that they cut his hand off, that would show that they were saying 'here is a hand that signed away, what we would say, his obligation to IRA/Sinn Fein and we will deal with him' - it looks like that sort of murder.

"There are serious talks that are going to take place and I would say that this has put a dark cloud over those talks.

"If this man has been murdered because of his connection with IRA/Sinn Fein and because of the past happenings, then it strikes a blow at what the two governments are trying to do - to say that the IRA has forsaken these ways and they are seeking peace."

ULSTER UNIONIST LEADER SIR REG EMPEY

"There was an inevitability about this. A lot of people both in the Republican movement and other organisations will sleep better in their beds knowing he is out of the way.

"Some people will see it as a tidying up of loose ends."

Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson

Published: 2006/04/04 20:02:11 GMT

[robowombat]

Really a case of the man who knew to much for his own good.

[aculeus]

ALL: Note this: "There are unconfirmed reports from the scene that the killers cut off one of Mr Donaldson's hands."



Ex-Sinn Fein man found shot dead
(Filed: 04/04/2006)

Denis Donaldson, the ex-Sinn Fein official banished from the party for spying for the British, has been found shot dead in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.


Mr Donaldson was outed as a spy last year
His body was discovered near the village of Glenties, not far from a run-down cottage which had become his home since he was expelled from Sinn Fein after admitting working for British intelligence for more than 25 years.

There are unconfirmed reports from the scene that the killers cut off one of Mr Donaldson's hands.

Irish police sealed off the area as forensic experts were called in to carry out an inspection. A pathologist was also called to the scene to carry out a post-mortem examination.

Mr Donaldson, 56, was a convicted IRA bomber who spent time in prison with Gerry Adams, now Sinn Fein leader, and was head of Sinn Fein administration at Stormont.

But at the end of last year it emerged that he had in fact been a mole for the British inside the IRA for two decades.

The IRA tonight denied murdering Mr Donaldson. "The IRA had no involvement whatsoever in the death of Denis Donaldson," a statement from the leadership said.

Mr Donaldson was the cause of the collapse of the power sharing administration at Stormont in 2002 when he was accused of running an IRA spy ring at the heart of government.

Charges against him were dropped last year and shortly after that came the news that he had in fact been a British spy.

At the time Mr Adams insisted Mr Donaldson would face no threat from the republican movement, but individual republicans vowed that he would never be allowed to return to live in Belfast.

Mr Adams spoke to the Donaldson family just before news of the death broke, and said he was not prepared to speculate on who might have been responsible.

"It has to be condemned," he said. "We are living in a different era, and in the future in which everyone could share. This killing seems to have been carried out by those who have not accepted that."

Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said: "I am completely appalled by this barbaric act."

The Irish Government also condemned the "brutal murder".

"We hope that whoever was responsible for this callous act will be brought to justice as soon as possible," Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said.

17 December 2005: Sinn Fein man was British agent

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/04/udonald.xml

[Tax-chick]

Oops!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Another man murdered by the IRA.

[GregB]

lets count how many people in Ireland,the british have killed?

[fanfan]

They sound as bad as the Mafia.

[bd476]

My thoughts exactly.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

They are a Mafia - we nicknamed them the 'Rafia' - as in 'Ra + Mafia, but of course they are worse than that, they are trying to overthrow Irish democracy!

[bd476]

Thanks for posting the Telegraph UK version of this story.

Also thank you for noting the disclaimer from the story which is horrific if true.

[Moleman]

lets count how many people in Ireland,the british have killed?

Thanks Greg, worth repeating.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The IRA have more people on this island than anyone else (1800), their Loyalist counterparts come second (1200) - and the British security forces have only killed a couple dozen!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

See post #15.

[JimRed]

Mr Donaldson was expelled from the party last December after admitting he was a paid British spy for 20 years.

Did he out himself, or did someone pull the "Plame game" on him?

[Axlrose]

Yes, to the time machine, all historical wrongs must be righted NOW !!!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

LOL, travel back in time to save the American Indians!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Long story... I'll get a link as soon as possible.

[bd476]

BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Sinn Fein expels 'British agent'



Last Updated: Friday, 16 December 2005

Sinn Fein expels 'British agent'


Mr Donaldson (front) appeared at a party
news conference last week



A veteran Sinn Fein figure has been expelled by the party which accused him of being a "British agent".

Charges of involvement in an alleged IRA spy ring against the party's former Stormont head of administration, Denis Donaldson, were dropped by the Crown.

Party leader Gerry Adams claimed he was about to be "outed" by the same "securocrats" who set him up as a spy.

The government said the October 2002 Stormont raid was solely to prevent paramilitary intelligence gathering.

Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive collapsed following the arrests of three men, who had all charges against them dropped last week.

The Northern Ireland Office said in a statement on Friday that they "completely reject any allegation that the police operation in October 2002 was for any reason other than to prevent paramilitary intelligence gathering".

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS 4 October 2002: Three men arrested following raid on Sinn Fein's Stormont office. Power-sharing executive collapses and government restores direct rule to NI a week later 8 December 2005: Charges against three men dropped "in the public interest" 16 December 2005: Sinn Fein says one of the men was a "British agent" and expels him from the party Government and police reject the party's claim raid was politically motivated

It said "the fact remains that a huge number of stolen documents were recovered by the police".

At a news conference on Friday, Mr Adams claimed Mr Donaldson had been approached by police officers earlier this week and told he was about to be "outed" as an informer.

Mr Adams said he contacted Sinn Fein and at a meeting at the party's Belfast headquarters on Thursday, he admitted that he had been working for the British authorities.

He said Mr Donaldson was not under any threat from the republican movement.

There has been no comment yet from Mr Donaldson.

Last week, Mr Donaldson appeared alongside Mr Adams at Stormont after the charges were dropped.

Mr Donaldson told the news conference that the "charges should never have been brought".

If... one of Sinn Fein's top administrators in Stormont turns out to be a British spy, this is as bizarre as it gets Bertie Ahern Irish prime minister

"It was political policing and political charges and the fact that we were acquitted today proves that," he said.

The police said on Friday that it was a matter of policy to neither confirm nor deny whether any individual is or had been an informant.

Police sources reiterated that the "Stormontgate" affair began because a paramilitary organisation was involved in the systematic gathering of information and targeting or individuals.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said Mr Donaldson had been known to the Irish government and if "one of Sinn Fein's top administrators in Stormont turns out to be a British spy, this is as bizarre as it gets".

'Public interest'

The BBC understands that the mole whose information prompted the Stormont raids was not Mr Donaldson, nor was it the other two men against whom the charges were dropped.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said the people of Northern Ireland "will never again be surprised at anything that happens in the political world" and that the prime minister must make a statement.

"There must be no attempt at further cover-up," he said.

"The democratic right of the people to be informed must be honoured."

Last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions would not be drawn on why the charges were dropped, only saying that it was "in the public interest".

Other parties have demanded that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain or Attorney General Lord Goldsmith must clarify what were these public interest reasons.

The three men were arrested following a police raid on Sinn Fein's offices at Parliament Buildings on 4 October 2002, when documents and computer discs were seized.

Following the arrests, Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionists, led at that time by then First Minister David Trimble, threatened to collapse the executive with resignations.

The British government then suspended devolution in the province, embarking on direct rule for the last three years.

BBC News Sinn Fein expels 'British agent'

[Brit_Guy]

"lets count how many people in Ireland,the british have killed?"

And your point is?

If you're going to stand up for terrorists spell it out and show your colors. Don't just hint at it.

[Brit_Guy]

"lets count how many people in Ireland,the british have killed?"

And your point is?

If you're going to stand up for terrorists spell it out and show your colors. Don't just hint at it.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

A veteran Sinn Fein figure has said he was a British agent for two decades.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

If you're going to stand up for terrorists spell it out and show your colors. Don't just hint at it.

That's the trouble, they won't - those fools just turn up and blame the British!!

[WorkingClassFilth]

Why cut off a hand? Is it symbolic or just brutal torture?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Probably both.

[Brit_Guy]

Red Hand? Quite symbolic in them parts.

[bd476]

Sad but true.

[aculeus]

Why cut off a hand? Is it symbolic or just brutal torture?

Take your pick.

BBC America's evening news seems to confirm. They said the body had been mutilated but didn't give details.

[bd476]

Gerry Adams IRA Statement

"The IRA had no involvement whatsoever in the death of Denis Donaldson."

---

Ulster Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey

"There was an inevitability about this. A lot of people both in the Republican movement and other organisations will sleep better in their beds knowing he is out of the way.

"Some people will see it as a tidying up of loose ends."

Reaction to death of Denis Donaldson

---

How are people receiving Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein's statement disavowing any connections to the murder and Ulster's Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey's comments?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I think the general public in both Britain and Ireland won't buy Sinn Fein/IRA's denials, but already we are hearing the usual crap from Blair and Ahern about it 'not interfering with devolved government'.

[bd476]

Thanks Irish Thatcherite. The murder is alarming considering all the press about Sinn Fein's truce on terrorism.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

And just watch the press over here whitewash it away, except the Sunday Independant of course!! I love that paper!!

[Lost Humanist]

Meaning what mate?

Meaning it sounds like you are a supporter of the murder of the British spy. Meaning you are condoning his murder because of all of the past atrocities British Troops have committed in Northern Ireland.
What about the bombing of my home town in '96 by the IRA then? Where is your outrage at that. Or the bombing in Manchester and the dozens in London. Or the attempts to kill Thatcher and Major?
This man gave his life in the end so the UK could enjoy a peace of sorts after decades of terrorist conflict. The least he deserves is a little respect and a prayer that this may be the last killing of the Troubles.

[stephenjohnbanker]

You have a GOOD paper??

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It bashes the hell out of the IRA!!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The least he deserves is a little respect and a prayer that this may be the last killing of the Troubles.

I wouldn't bet on it!!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Nuff said : )

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I'll get you a link to the paper tomorrow!!

[Lost Humanist]

yeah man, I know, it wont be. Its a war that was going on long before I was born and will continue long after I'm gone.
Worrying that some of the posts here and on other threads are almost coming out in favour of the murder. Are there IRA sympathisers here?????????

[Liberty Valance]

I thought the troubles had settled down a bit.
Guiness for strength!

[Fintan]

We're all Irish, but we're not all murderers

[bd476]

Welcome to Free Republic and thanks for joining the discussion here. :-)

[Lost Humanist]

gravy mate ;)

[ex-snook]

Let's see the guy was on the take and paid by the British to be a spy informant. Pay back is a bitch.

[bd476]

"Fintan wrote: "We're all Irish, but we're not all murderers"

My Cymru forbears wave a daffodil at you and my Irish kin wave the shamrock.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Are there IRA sympathisers here?????????

Yes, and I'm getting weary of flame wars with them all the time, they are so convinced that I'm an Orangeman because of my opinions - they can't figure that the southern Irish hate the IRA!!

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

Anyone who gets into the Spy Business should not expect longevity.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Nah, the IRA have just shifted gears - now they are simply conspiring to overthrow the democracy in southern Ireland!!