Donaldson's family 'believe IRA'

The family of former British spy Denis Donaldson said today they did not believe the IRA was responsible for his murder.

The 56-year-old was found dead three days ago with shotgun wounds at the cottage in County Donegal in the Irish Republic, where he had moved after being ostracised by his former colleagues in the republican movement.

The Donaldson family said that although they did not know who was responsible for his murder, the difficult situation which they had been put in was “the direct result” of the activities of the Special Branch and British Intelligence agencies.

“We acknowledge the speedy statement from the IRA disassociating themselves from this murder. We believe that statement to be true.”

They added: “We would ask those politicians and media commentators who have sought to use this tragedy to score cheap political points to stop doing so.”

In a statement released by Belfast law firm Madden and Finucane, the family blamed the media for reporting details of Donaldson’s new location.

“In December, Denis left his home in Belfast and moved to Donegal, where it was his desire that he be left alone to rebuild his life. Unfortunately, he continued to be pursued by sections of the media, some of whom gave details about his whereabouts,” the family said.

Mr Donaldson, Sinn Féin’s former head of administration, was arrested in October 2002 amid allegations that republicans ran a spy ring at the heart of former Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid’s office at Stormont.

But after a three-year legal battle, the charges were dropped last year and, in another sensational twist, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams unmasked Mr Donaldson, a former colleague of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, as a spy.

The family said Mr Donadson was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather and a good brother.

“The events of recent months have been very difficult for our family. In the next few days, Denis will return home to Belfast to be with his family for one last time and to be buried. The funeral will be private and we would ask the media to respect our privacy at this time.”

The family expressed their deep gratitude to friends, neighbours and the wider community for the compassion, solidarity and sympathy they had given.