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.

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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.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

How can an American support the 'War on Terror' and yet support the IRA? Thats a Janus complex if there ever was one...

Yes, and it's an even bigger contradiction for Tony Blair - fighting terrorism on the international front, appeassing them on the domestic front!!

BTW, I nearly forgot - welcome to Free Republic!!

[Lost Humanist]

"While I am not an Irish Republican , I understand why the IRA would want him dead. Moreover, if he had been spying for Al Queda against the USA I would want to see him dead."

Meaning what mate? On what side of the line do you stand, or are you just on the fence?

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

I do not think most Americans who support the IRA know how radical the Left Wing of the IRA is. As I understand it the Radicals in the not only want to unify Ireland but overthrow the current Irish government in favor of a Marxist Government.

Interestingly, if the IRA would moderate they would find much more success and Ulster would be able to break from the UK.

[Lost Humanist]

Ha! Good one.

Cheers mate.

[ex-snook]

"Spying is a very dangerous profession."

Righto. We have been known to kill spys too. There was the Communist Rosenberg spying for example.

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

The British will eventually lose in Ulster but only if the IRA moderates their agenda.

[bd476]

Lost Humanist wrote: "...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."

Well said, Lost Humanist.

Didn't they also try to assassinate Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery aka Monty ?

Prayers for Denis Donaldson, his family and for all the victims of terrorism in the UK.

[Lost Humanist]

I think you're right man.

Northern Ireland will eventually become part of the Republic, and I'm fine with that. Only if the people, both the Catliks and Prodydogs, vote for it in a peaceful election.

Making someone do your will through mass terrorism isn't the way to go out business. I dont think the IRA has political credence. Maybe in 100 years when the terrorism has been forgotten...

[bd476]

H. Paul Pressler IV wrote: "While I am not an Irish Republican , I understand why the IRA would want him dead. Moreover, if he had been spying for Al Queda against the USA I would want to see him dead."


Huh, what? Are you equating the Brits with Al Qaeda?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

As I understand it the Radicals in the not only want to unify Ireland but overthrow the current Irish government in favor of a Marxist Government.

Yup!! Which is why I also regard them as traitors! Also, they are actively engaging in that plan!!

[Lost Humanist]

"Pay back is a bitch" is it mate?

So its ok to murder a British spook? Are you one of those I have been warned about?

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

No. But I understand why the IRA would want a spy dead.

[Lost Humanist]

Well said man.

I would be interested to read the response. Lots of explaining to do...

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I thought he was defending the IRA initially, but I don't think so now.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

See you again!!

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

There are dozens in not hundreds of factions in the IRA each with an agenda. Some of those agendas are much more radical than others.

However, the bottom line is that the IRA has made progress and now even President Bush has met with Gerry Adams at the White House.

[Lost Humanist]

No doubt man.

[Lost Humanist]

Yes they have made progress, I agree. They dont blow people up anymore. Although it seems the 'nutting squads' are alive and well.
I dont know what a US Pres has got to do with a British problem, and he is condoning the terrorism against the UK by having the political leader of the IRA over for tea and crumpets.
What would the US say if the UK had Bin Laden over for breakfast?

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

The IRA has found appeasement in Blair and of now Clinton and Bush.

Lesson Learned:


Terrorism Pays

[antihannityguy]

What about Lord Louis Mountbatten father of the British Commandos