A CO Donegal man suspected of being involved in the murder of Denis Donaldson is currently serving a sentence in a Scottish prison.
Anton Duffy is serving a 17 year jail term for leading a plot to kill former UDA 'C' Company boss Johnny Adair and fellow Shankill Road loyalist Sam McCrory.
The Donegal man was described as the "instigator and driving force" behind the 2015 plot.
As well as the jail term he also faces an additional three-year supervisory release in Scotland on his release.
Two other men were also given prison terms.
In 2017 Gardaí submitted a "substantial" file on the Donaldson murder to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Republic.
During an inquest hearing into the murder of Mr Donaldson in 2019 a Garda superintendent told a court in Letterkenny that the director had ordered that murder charges be brought in the case.
The court later heard that a warrant had been obtained from the Special Criminal Court in Dublin "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.”
News of the decision to bring charges came as gardaí requested a 23rd adjournment of the inquest.
However concerns were raised by the Donaldson family at the time that it could take more than 10 years before he faces an Irish court.
In a statement released through a solicitor the family, who had previously criticised delays to the inquest, said: “We are mindful of the fact that the individual who may face charges is not physically amenable to gardaí 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.”
In 2020 Gardai released a statement saying they were aware that a EAW (European Arrest Warrant) had been "executed" on a man in Scotland by Police Scotland.
"As this matter is currently before the courts in that jurisdiction, An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time," the statement said.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland was contacted.
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