Denis Donaldson family solicitor criticises 22nd inquest adjournment

Ciaran Shiels

Ciaran Shiels of Madden & Finucane Solicitors said the family of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Féin official and police informant, are “deeply dismayed by the Irish State’s continuing interference with their right to an Article 2 compliant inquest”.

He added: “Over the last 12 and a half years, this inquest has been adjourned on 22 consecutive occasions. While not treated as a legacy case, the time-wasting and obstruction by criminal justice agencies, north and south, is making it a legacy case.”

Mr Shiels also called on the new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to intervene to direct that Mr Donaldson’s journal to be returned to his family.

He said: “In July 2017, the Police Ombudsman in the North confirmed the investigative value of Denis’ journal to his investigation and gave an explicit undertaking to the Donaldson family to initiate proceedings to recover the journal.

“To the present day, however, Denis’ journal remains in the control of Gardaí.”

The lawyer said Commissioner Harris, given “his background in northern policing”, would be very familiar with the case and could “spare the Donaldson family further distress by directing that Denis’ journal is returned to the family”.