Man charged with murder of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson

By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

A man has appeared before a court charged with the murder of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in April 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for over 20 years.

Antoin Duffy, aged in his 40s, of no fixed abode, appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court on Monday afternoon charged with the murder of Mr Donaldson at Cloghercor, Doochary, between April 3rd and 4th in 2006.

He was also charged with the possession of a shotgun and ammunition.

He was arrested earlier in the day following his extradition from Scotland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.

Detective Garda Adrian Ahern told the court that he arrested Duffy at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on Monday afternoon.

He said he later met Duffy at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, handed him a copy of the charge sheet, and showed him an original copy of the charge sheet.

He was also charged with the attempted murder of another man in November 2007 in Co Donegal, and with possession of a shotgun and ammunition on the date and location in question.

Appearing before judges James Faughnan, Patrick McGrath, and Sarah Berkeley, he was remanded in custody before the next court appearance on April 13th where he is to appear in person.

He was also granted legal aid by the court.