Donaldson died from shotgun blast to the chest

MURDERED British spy Denis Donaldson died from a shotgun blast to the chest, preliminary post mortem results have shown.

Gardaí investigating the murder said results also indicate a severe shotgun blast injury to his right hand. This may have been a defensive wound. Technical examination of the scene will continue today.

Donaldson had turned down garda protection despite being warned his life was in danger, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

Mr Ahern described the killing of the former high ranking Sinn Féin strategist, exposed last December as a Special Branch agent, as "evil".

Mr Ahern admitted the murder made the task of restoring devolution in the North even harder as he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair moved to unveil a new power-sharing initiative in Armagh.

Mr Ahern confirmed Mr Donaldson had been shot a number of times following a break-in at his Donegal home on Tuesday and the victim's right hand was almost severed at the wrist.

Gardaí visited Mr Donaldson at his remote home near the village of Glenties in January to warn him about the danger he was in, Mr Ahern said. "Following the public attention he received, gardaí visited him and advised him that, because of his circumstances, there was a perceived threat to his life. It should be noted that Mr Donaldson did not at any time request garda assistance or protection since that period in January."

Mr Ahern said he had no idea who carried out the murder, but it could have been "blind and bitter retribution".

As gardaí mounted one of the biggest operations seen in the county, questioning motorists at roadblocks, they vowed to leave no stone unturned in hunting down the Belfast man's killers. Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn reiterated that Mr Donaldson was warned his life was in danger after he moved into the cottage in Glenties in January.

"The Garda Síochána were aware of the property in the area, they were aware the cottage was owned by the Donaldson family and the wider extended family," she said. "We would have been paying passing attention to the cottage. When we became aware that Mr Donaldson was there we made ourselves known to Mr Donaldson and offered him our support and assistance."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described the killing as a "cold, callous and vicious murder".

Labour's Pat Rabbitte offered support to Mr Ahern in efforts to restore devolution to the North.

However, the high-profile Armagh declaration was in danger of being overshadowed by the brutal killing.

"Something always happens to build up tension when talks are about to take place to try to deal with issues in Northern Ireland," Mr Ahern said.

"Whoever was responsible for this evil deed was certainly no friend of the peace process or of anyone on this island. This callous murder is a brutal reminder of Northern Ireland's tortured and tragic past and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms."

Mr Ahern and Mr Blair are set to announce the restoration of the Northern assembly for six months in the hope a power-sharing executive can be established this year. Mr Blair said the murder was an attempt to wreck peace efforts.

"Our response should be to deny them what they want. Sometimes these things can be perpetrated by people in disagreement with their leadership."