Donaldson murder accused to get book of evidence

A 49-year-old man charged with the murder of Denis Donaldson, the former senior Sinn Féin official and long-serving MI5 informant killed in County Donegal two decades ago, has been remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court until June following a hearing on 13 April. Antoin Duffy, of Braade, Kincasslagh, faces six charges arising from the fatal shooting at an isolated cottage near Glenties in April 2006. In addition to the murder charge, he is accused of attempted murder and firearms offences linked to separate incidents in 2007, including the attempted murder of Liam McGinley in November that year. The charges also include possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Duffy appeared before the court via video link. The three-judge, non-jury court directed that two books of evidence be served on his legal representatives, with a further hearing scheduled for 8 June to allow preparation of his defence. The defendant was extradited from Scotland in late March, where he had been imprisoned since 2015 following conviction for his involvement in a plot against the Ulster Defence Association. His return to Ireland marked a significant development in the long-outstanding investigation into Donaldson's death. Donaldson, aged 55 at the time, was exposed as an MI5 informant months before his killing. The dissident republican organisation styling itself the Real IRA subsequently claimed responsibility for his murder. The certification that the ordinary courts were inadequate to try this matter led to the case being assigned to the Special Criminal Court under a direction by the Director of Public Prosecutions.