Gerry Adams sanctioned the killing of British spy, claims former IRA man

Mr Donaldson was killed by a shotgun blast in April 2006 as he opened the door to his cottage in Glenties, Donegal.

He was in hiding after being outed as a British agent of nearly 20 years.

The IRA denied his murder at the time, but a BBC ‘Spotlight’ investigation broadcast last night said security forces still believed the IRA was responsible.

The BBC spoke to a man who claims to be a former IRA member who was recruited as an agent by RUC Special Branch, identified only as ‘Martin’.

He told the programme he knew personally that Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams sanctioned the killing.

Spotlight said they understood Gerry Adams had stepped aside from the IRA army council in 2006, but according to Martin “he is consulted in all matters”.

“I know from my experience in the IRA that murders have to be approved by the leadership, the political (and) military leadership of the IRA,” said Martin.

Asked who he was referring to specifically, he said: “Gerry Adams, he gives the final say.”

A statement from Mr Adams’s solicitor has strongly denied the allegations.

He said his client “had no involvement and no knowledge whatsover in Denis Donaldson’s killing.

“He categorically denies he was consulted on what he calls an alleged IRA army council decision or that he had any final say in the matter being sanctioned.”

Spotlight said security sources had told them the South Armagh IRA commissioned the killing, something they learned from agents and covert surveillance.

They added that South Armagh IRA leader Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy “insisted that Donaldson be killed in order to maintain army discipline” and that the IRA in the area commissioned the execution.

Mr Murphy’s solicitor was contacted by Spotlight - but they said they had received no response last night.

Martin said he had had informed his Special Branch sources about what he learned about the murder.

“Not too long after Denis was murdered I was told by an active member of the IRA that the IRA had killed him, not anybody else,” he said.

“I gave that information to the Special Branch. They were just totally mute, there wasn’t any acknowledgement of what I had said. The subject was changed to something else.”

Asked if he was surprised, he said: “No I think they knew themselves. I just think that they had seen Donaldson’s death as internal housekeeping, they were happy enough to put up with that.”

He said they chose at times not to act on information as “it was too politically sensitive to do so”.

The dissident group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for Donaldson’s killing in 2009 — something Martin dismissed.

I believe the Real IRA claimed it three years later for the kudos in the hope that someone might take them more seriously.”