The family of murdered west Belfast man Denis Donaldson have said they're "deeply dismayed" by the decision by the Donegal coroner's court to delay the inquest into his death until March 2019.
My Donaldson was shot dead in a remote cottage in the Glenties Co Donegal in April 2006, less than four months after he was unmasked as an MI5 agent.
Ciaran Shiels of Madden & Finucane Solicitors who represent the family, said; "Over the last 12 and a half years, this inquest has been adjourned on 22 consecutive occasions.
"At the heart of this case is a criminal conspiracy involving State agents in the exposure of Denis Donaldson as an informer for the RUC, PSNI and MI5, leading to his murder in April 2006.
"In the cover-up which has followed, Gardaí have invoked "State security" to prevent the return of the journal in which Denis was writing days before his murder.
"With his background in Northern policing, the new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is very familiar with the case of Denis Donaldson.
"Commissioner Harris can spare the Donaldson family further distress by directing that Denis' journal is returned to the family. We would call upon him publicly to make that pledge", Mr Shiels added.
