
An Garda Síochána facing legal action over Denis Donaldson investigation
The Real IRA admitted to shooting the high-ranking Sinn Fein official three years later.
The Irish police ombudsman, Fiosrú, said in a letter to the Donaldson family that it believed gardai had failed to fulfil a request for information necessary for its investigation.
Fiosrú told the family it would begin legal proceedings in Dublin Circuit Civil Court seeking an order for disclosure, RTE also reported.
An Garda Síochána declined for comment adding it did not remark on Fiosrú matters.
Enda McGarrity, the Donaldson family's lawyer, said the watchdog's investigation had taken place over the course of three years.
'We now understand that Fiosrú are commencing legal proceedings against An Garda Síochána arising out of a failure to comply with aspects of the investigation,' she said.
'That's a matter of significant concern to the family because the body which is charged with investigating the murder of Denis Donaldson are now not only being investigated, but failing to comply with investigation and that gives rise to family's wider concern that the State are currently not delivering an effective investigation.'
It comes after Gerry Adams won a defamation case against the BBC in May following a story in 2016 in which it was claimed he was linked to the murder of Mr Donaldson.
In Profile: Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams
The five-week trial centred on an anonymous source in a BBC NI Spotlight programme claiming Mr Adams had sanctioned the shooting by giving 'the final say'.
The 76-year-old, who had always denied the allegation, described it as a 'grievous smear' and accused the BBC of upholding 'the ethos of the British state in Ireland'.
Mr Adams was awarded £84,000 in damages by the High Court jury in Dublin.
The BBC reported the legal bill could cost up to £4.2m and is understood to be one of the most expensive cases they have ever fought.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
CNN interrupted for major breaking news which could have 'huge impact' on Donald Trump
A breaking news story halted proceedings on CNN and the future outcome could have ramifications for president Donald Trump. The news organisation broke to breaking news to inform that Ghislaine Maxwell has been granted a form of limited immunity to talk during her meetings with Department of Justice officials. CNN news reporter Erin Burnett read out live on air: "We are just learning this hour that Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was granted limited immunity in order to talk with Trump's personal attorney turned deputy attorney general, Todd Blanch." The British socialite and former ex-girlfriend of convicted sex offender Epstein met with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on multiple occasions this week. It's said she was the one who initiated the meetings. The limited immunity means that anything Maxwell said that was truthful couldn't be used against her in the future. According to her attorney, David Oscar Markus, during the past days worth of talks, Maxwell was asked questions by DOJ on "maybe about 100 different people". He told CNN and other reporters, she answered the questions put to her and "didn't hold anything back". It's said Maxwell spoke for nine hours over the two days. Trump is mentioned within the Epstein files, with has name appearing multiple times on flight logs for Epstein's private plane in the 1990s. However, it is unknown whether Maxwell's questions involved the president. Trump had said earlier he hasn't thought about giving Maxwell a pardon or commutation for her cooperation. However he hadn't ruled it out. He explained how he is "allowed to do it" but hasn't thought about it. After Maxwell's arrest in connection to Epstein's crimes in 2020, Trump had said: "I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her." Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in jail for trafficking underage girls. She was convicted of five charges in December 2021 for recruiting and grooming four girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, then her boyfriend, between 1994 and 2004 following a month-long trial. Before imposing a 20-year sentence, Judge Nathan summarised the cases of several of the victims. She said Maxwell and Epstein used a "playbook" over the years, and the result was "incalculable" damage to their victims. "The sentence I impose must reflect the gravity of Ms Maxwell's conduct," she said. 'A substantial sentence will send an unmistakable message that those who engage in the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage victims will be held accountable by the law. 'The rule of law demands, and this court agrees, that whether you are rich or powerful or entirely unknown, nobody is above the law." Judge Nathan added: 'It is important to emphasise that although Epstein was central to this criminal scheme, Ms Maxwell is not being punished in place of Epstein or as a proxy for Epstein." She went on to call the crimes "heinous and predatory'. Maxwell continues to appeal her conviction. The initial appeal against her convictions was rejected by a US court in September last year. She currently isn't eligible for release from prison until July 2037.


Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Lone protester slams Donald Trump at golf course with brutal Scottish insult
Matt Halliday from Stranraer said he was disappointed more people hadn't shown up to Trump's golf course - while hundreds protested in Edinburgh and Aberdeen A lone protester braved the massive police presence at Donald Trump's golf course to protest against his visit to Scotland. Trump enjoyed a morning round of golf with the protection of thousands of British police officers - while protests against his trip to Scotland raged elsewhere. The US President is staying at Turnberry until Monday before heading off to his other golf resort in Aberdeen. Tomorrow he'll hold a meeting with EU chief Ursula Von Der Leyen, before sitting down with Keir Starmer on Monday. During the meeting, they're expected to discuss the fine points of the trade deal Mr Starmer agreed with President Trump in May. But while it's expected to be an informal session, they'll also discuss heavier topics - including work to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump was seen playing golf on Saturday morning, and was shuttled around the course in a 15-strong motorcade of golf buggies. He wore a white USA baseball cap, and waved at photographers gathered outside the course's fence. The sole protester at Turnberry - Matt Halliday, 55, from Stranraer - came to Turnberry today bearing two placards. One featured a picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, and another of a set of bagpipes. The message read: "TRUMP GO HOME: The only "blowhard" pumped up windbags that we want to listen to are these bad boys". The second placard was much less family friendly. "I'm here to show my displeasure at Trump being here," he told the Mirror. "I just find him morally repugnant. I see what he's doing in the states, rolling back civil rights for women and minorities, folk getting lifted from their houses, medicaid getting taken away - and he comes here and thinks he's got the authority to pontificate to us. "Because he wants us to do the same, and he'll try and bully us through tariffs and trade - similar to Canada which he wants to make the 51st state. "That's what's coming for us if we don't stand up to him." Protests raged in Edinburgh and Aberdeen today, with thousands expressing their displeasure at Trump's arrival. In Aberdeen, the group that gathered in the city centre were seen waving banners with anti-Trump slogans - with one demonstrator even dressed as the president with a large papier mache head. As speeches ended at the rally, chants of "Trump Trump Trump, out out out" could be heard, along with "Donald, Donald, hear us shout, all of Scotland wants you out". But the winding roads and windswept beaches of South Ayrshire, where Turnberry sits, remained calm and quiet. Mr Halliday suggested people had been put off by the enormous operation Police Scotland have put in place to protect President Trump - complete with a no-fly zone, a ground exclusion zone stretching for miles around the resort, snipers and as many as 5,000 officers reported to be policing the area. And the operation is much bigger than locals have seen during previous visits. "It's supposedly a private visit, and I've seen figures from £5 million to £14 million for Police Scotland, Mr Halliday said. "That's coming out of their budget. If you saw the convoy of 27 cars last night, there were even Scottish Ambulances at the back. And folk can't get them. It's madness." Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Mr Halliday said he was "very" disappointed to have arrived in Turnberry to find no other protesters - but he said he thought most people had gone to Edinburgh instead. Mr Halliday said he was "very" disappointed to have arrived in Turnberry to find no other protesters - but he said he thought most people had gone to the Edinburgh rally instead. Another man from Glasgow, who did not want to be named, said they were surprised people had not come to protest in Turnberry itself - and were dismayed that the huge police presence had been used to put people off. 'Especially since it's - apart from a couple of meetings - it's a holiday, it's a private visit,' he said. 'The resources that have been diverted from other places to protect him. It's mad.' One participant joined the Edinburgh rally against Donald Trump while wearing a Handmaid costume from the Margaret Atwood novel. Louise Brown, a healthcare worker, said she had travelled from Newcastle to the Scottish capital to protest the President's visit. She said: "He's a convicted felon - eroding women's rights, trans rights, gay right, immigration rights. There's too much to list. "I know he loves Scotland because of his mother. He doesn't normally care about protests but maybe he might care a little bit about one in Scotland, I don't know." She said there was more anger towards Trump following his first inauguration in 2017, but added: "Especially after those immigration ICE raids, I think the anger has now come back. "Because he's even worse than he was the first time."

The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Glasgow 'mass deportation' march met with counterprotest
Hundreds of anti-racists, trade unionists, faith leaders and community campaigners took to the streets on Saturday in response to the march being permitted to proceed. Ukip, a party with no electoral foothold in Glasgow, failed to field a single candidate in the city during last year's General Election. READ MORE: 'Not in our name': Hundreds gather in Scottish cities to protest Donald Trump Its latest leader, Tenconi, has launched what he describes as a 'mass deportations tour,' targeting major cities across the UK, including Nottingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, and London. In a widely condemned social media video, he claims: 'Illegal immigration is one of the greatest threats to the British people.' He advocates sending 'teams of men' to France to 'intercept and destroy the boats,' and calls for 'English patriots' to donate 'English pounds' to 'support my mission". The rally prompted Stand Up To Racism to mobilise a counter-demonstration against what they describe as a group aligned with far-right agitator Tommy Robinson. READ MORE: 'He belongs in The Hague': Keir Starmer fiercely criticised over Gaza speech Approximately 150 UKIP supporters marched through Glasgow under a heavy police presence, with Tenconi himself in attendance. Stand Up To Racism Scotland said: "Fascist Nick Tenconi and his thugs are bringing their 'mass deportations' tour to Glasgow. "Glasgow City Council are not challenging a march through the city centre led by fascists, but antiracists and anti-fascists will. "This will be a safely stewarded coming together of all those who say refugees and migrants are welcome in Glasgow, but fascists are not."