Northern Ireland

Denis Donaldson murder accused Anton Duffy plotted to kill leading loyalist Johnny Adair

A SOLICITOR for the family of murdered MI5 agent Denis Donaldson has told of concerns that proceedings to bring a man to court to face charges could take years to complete.

The former senior Sinn Féin official, (55) was shot dead in 2006 at a remote cottage near Glenties in Co Donegal, months after being exposed as a spy.

Dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.

Gardaí had submitted a "substantial" file on the murder to the director of public prosecutions in the Republic of Ireland two years ago.

News of the decision to charge a man emerged at Mr Donaldson's inquest yesterday in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Denis Donaldson (second left) was a senior member of Sinn Féin and worked closely with the party leadership.
Denis Donaldson (second left) was a senior member of Sinn Féin and worked closely with the party leadership. Denis Donaldson (second left) was a senior member of Sinn Féin and worked closely with the party leadership.

A garda officer told the hearing a warrant has been issued for the arrest of the man to be charged.

The Irish News understands that the accused is Donegal man Anton Duffy, who is currently serving a 17-year jail sentence in Scotland for plotting to murder former UDA leader, Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair.

Read More: Book suggests there were republican concerns about informer Denis Donaldson in late 1980s

Duffy (43), who was originally from west Donegal but based in Scotland, was convicted in 2015 of leading a plot to kill the Belfast loyalist and fellow former UDA leader, Sam McCrory.

One of the most notorious UDA leaders of the Troubles, Adair had been living in Ayrshire at the time. The two loyalists had been driven out of Belfast in an internal UDA feud.

Duffy one of three republicans convicted of plotting to kill the loyalist leaders. Duffy’s cousin, Martin Hughes (40) was jailed for 11 years while another man, Paul Sands (36) was jailed for ten years.

The three men were convicted on the basis of a protracted police and MI5 surveillance operation involving bugged conversations and undercover officers. In a recording of a conversation between Duffy and his then girlfriend played to Glasgow High Court in 2015, Duffy said: “I’m trying to get a war started and get as many guns and explosives as I can.”

Denis Donaldson's body was found in a remote cottage at Doochery near Glenties in west Donegal in April 2006. PICTURE: Paul Faith / PA
Denis Donaldson's body was found in a remote cottage at Doochery near Glenties in west Donegal in April 2006. PICTURE: Paul Faith / PA Denis Donaldson's body was found in a remote cottage at Doochery near Glenties in west Donegal in April 2006. PICTURE: Paul Faith / PA

News of the decision to bring charges came as Gardaí requested a 23rd adjournment of the inquest. Garda Superintendent Michael Finan told coroner Dr Denis McCauley the Republic’s Director of Public Prosecutions had directed murder charges be brought in the case.

Superintendent Finan said: “A warrant has recently been obtained from the Special Criminal court for the arrest of an individual for the purpose of taking him before that court where his is to be charged with Mr Donaldson’s murder.”

While news of Duffy’s pending charge marks a significant move in the case, it could be many years before the Donegal man can be brought before the Special Criminal Court.

A warrant for his extradition cannot be served until he completes his jail term and possibly until after he serves an additional three-year supervisory release in Scotland. Extradition issues could also be problematic post-Brexit.

Solicitor for the Donaldson family, Ciarán Shiels said it could be more than ten years before he is brought before an Irish court.

In a statement released through Mr Shiels, the Donaldson family, who have previously hit out at continued delays to the inquest, said:

“We are mindful of the fact that the individual who may face charges is not physically amenable to Gardai and he is currently serving a massive prison sentence outside the jurisdiction.

“Following his release from custody, he faces an additional three-year supervisory release in that jurisdiction. Therefore, even with a fair wind, it is highly unlikely that any criminal proceedings might meaningfully be commended until a further decade at least passes by."

Mr Shiels said the “breakthrough” announced by Gardai meant that Mr Donaldson’s widow – who is now aged in her 70s – could be in her 80s before she sees anyone charged with her husband’s murder.

He added: "There is a sense of disappointment that Mr Donaldson's widow will see truth in the form of the inquest proceedings meaningfully, or justice in terms of the criminal proceedings to a close within her lifetime - that's very much in doubt."

The inquest into Mr Donaldson’s death has been adjourned for 12 months until September 23 next year.