Former MI5 spy shot dead in Ireland

[futurepilot2004]

Breaking news so no link yet. Denis Donaldson who was a high ranking member of Sinn Fein was revealed to be one of MI5s most important spy last year. He was living in hiding for the last few months until a tabloid here revealed where he lived last week. Apparently he`s been shot in head today.
Expect any political progress in Northern Ireland to stall for the forseable future.

[Aerosoul]

oh boy.........
RIP.

[Royal]

"Touts will be shot"

So much for the PIRA cease fire.

[Resurrection]

Terrible news. RIP.

[moughoun]

you should have run further Denis:|

[Royal]

you should have run further Denis:|

Indeed, but people rarely do (makes them easier to find ;)) the ties of home and family are strong.

The BBC are confirming it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4877516.stm

[Royal]

On a related note Leonard Hardy has just been sentanced to 6 years by a German court for attempted murder for the bombing of Quebec barracks in Osnabruck.

Hopefully the Good Friday Agreement doesn't apply 'cos the bastard's been on the run.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4875408.stm

[moughoun]

the word is now, they think he may have killed himself....

[California Joe]

Damn dude, you don't spy on a bunch of guys and then practically live in their neighborhood. Don't they watch the Sopranos?

What you're supposed to do is become a colorful local character with a mysterious past in Costa Rica or Vermont or somewhere. p-)

[moughoun]

Damn dude, you don't spy on a bunch of guys and then practically live in their neighborhood. Don't they watch the Sopranos?

What you're supposed to do is become a colorful local character with a mysterious past in Costa Rica or Vermont or somewhere. p-)
the Irish are a strange and mysterious people, we do thing's our wayp-)

[moughoun]

there saying on SKy his hands were cut off
I ot my information from our tv RTE,....hand's cutoff?!? the RA are getting worse

[moughoun]

RA?? you know what the press are never let the facts stand in the way of a good story

there also saying the border is being sealed- suggests to me there looking for someone
RA=nickname for the IRA

I'm sure they are, I hope those guys have running shoes on, they'll need them

[California Joe]

the Irish are a strange and mysterious people, we do thing's our wayp-)

Apparently that way is rather counterproductive to longevity when it comes to spies.

[Royal]

Apparently that way is rather counterproductive to longevity when it comes to spies.

It's not a game you get into for the pension prospects...

[bluffcove]

I think suicide can be ruled out when you are missing both hands!

hmmm curious? wait for johnathon creek to explain how an elastic band, a nail file and a freak power cut are to blame.

[Abolith]

if it turns out to be true that he was killed, could the Tabloid be held responsible since they let out where he was??

[California Joe]

It's not a game you get into for the pension prospects...

What's this guys background anyway? Is it public knowledge? Did it put a target on his back?

[demotivater]

It's not a game you get into for the pension prospects...
He got his retirement package.

[Royal]

What's this guys background anyway? Is it public knowledge? Did it put a target on his back?

He was a high level member of SF/PIRA. It has been for some time.

He 'came out' last year...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4536896.stm

[California Joe]

What is your opinion of him? Did he really think he could just retire quietly after that? That "coming out" was retarded.

[Royal]

What is your opinion of him? Did he really think he could just retire quietly after that? That "coming out" was retarded.

He was a tout, all touts are scum who shouldn't be trusted as far as you can throw them, but he was our tout.

It's a dirty business, he put his neck on the line and saved lives, civilian and military - he should have taken a pension and a new name somewhere in the sun, but as Moughoun said, for some reason the Irish are loathe to do that.

He could have retired, but he could never go home.

They have long memories and bear grudges in that part of the world.

[gaz]

A recent thread (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76471) started by Jedburgh on the history board.

[b33f]

Breaking news so no link yet. Denis Donaldson who was a high ranking member of Sinn Fein was revealed to be one of MI5s most important spy last year. He was living in hiding for the last few months until a tabloid here revealed where he lived last week. Apparently he`s been shot in head today.
Expect any political progress in Northern Ireland to stall for the forseable future.
That tabloids' chief editor should be shot as well. Sensitive information like that should not be printed in a news paper ... cause no one needs to know.

[BritSig]

A book called killing rage (Eamon Collins) is a great read into the conflict ex spies have when leaving N.I or Eire.
Incidently i think this will be blamed on the RIRA or CIRA as when i was last out there they were not on ceasefire. Just an opinion.

[Royal]

Incidently i think this will be blamed on the RIRA or CIRA as when i was last out there they were not on ceasefire. Just an opinion.

May well be blamed on them (PIRA have issued a denial), but as to who actually did it....

[California Joe]

A recent thread (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76471) started by Jedburgh on the history board.

Yeah gazbert I read that one also. I just couldn't be arsed to go over there and open the thread and see if it was the same joker. So I take it "tout" is the equivalent of a snitch, rat, stoolie, informer.... When I first read the title of the thread I figured he may have been a true undercover operative. Not someone that was turned. Too bad for him that he disliked travel. He signed his own death warrant.

[futurepilot2004]

what about the "real IRA" have they made a statement

with all these differant IRA groups sounding like there from some advert i keep expecting a "IRA with no added suger" to pop up
That and "I cant believe its not IRA"

Anyway, it is more then likely the RIRA/CIRA or indeed a "hardline" element within the PIRA whos responsible.

[remo williams]

That tabloids' chief editor should be shot as well. Sensitive information like that should not be printed in a news paper ... cause no one needs to know.

Question..If he didn't come fwd and give his personal info to the tabs,Sould the editor still be held responsible.Second question would be if Val Plame got cranially ventilated,would there be a difference between these two cases? Essentially spies getting outed and taken out in the spotlight? Not trolling ,rip to the man,as he was doing his duty.But this seems to be the beginning of a global recurring theme. Imho, spies have the most sensitive position even moreso than the politicians who utilize them because they aren't re-elected.Failures or mishaps on their part are fatal. They should be treated better retired or not.

[moughoun]

Question..If he didn't come fwd and give his personal info to the tabs,Sould the editor still be held responsible.Second question would be if Val Plame got cranially ventilated,would there be a difference between these two cases? Essentially spies getting outed and taken out in the spotlight? Not trolling ,rip to the man,as he was doing his duty.But this seems to be the beginning of a global recurring theme. Imho, spies have the most sensitive position even moreso than the politicians who utilize them because they aren't re-elected.Failures or mishaps on their part are fatal. They should be treated better retired or not. your mixing thing's up Valery Plame was a CIA officer not a spy, Denis Donaldson was a member of Sinn Fein before we he started working for the security services, he spied on his friends and collegues, he chose to betray them, and that's how we got here.

[remo williams]

your mixing thing's up Valery Plame was a CIA officer not a spy, Denis Donaldson was a member of Sinn Fein before we he started working for the security services, he spied on his friends and collegues, he chose to betray them, and that's how we got here.

Before he was MI-5? That changes my perception just a bit then thanks for setting that straight. So more or less he was or could have been a double agent? Sheisty stuff....

[moughoun]

ok,no prob with that. my main point though is that those who serve in some clandestine/covert capacity should be respected and treated as such. Meaning that their identity shouldn't be up for grabs to which ever tabloid.Nor should they "out" themselves as it may not be just their own identity they could compromise.But the who involvement of the tabs and publishing his identity is aggravating. not as much as having a hole in your head,but that nothing is sacred or secret.
well there are question's about why exactly he outed himself......it's slightly suspicious, he had to know he was a dead man, no matter what he was promised

[Seiran]

Damn dude, you don't spy on a bunch of guys and then practically live in their neighborhood. Don't they watch the Sopranos?

Sometimes the best place to hide is right out in public.

[Royal]

Nor should they "out" themselves as it may not be just their own identity they could compromise.

Much as you may want to, you can't stop people outing themselves for whatever reason, be it guilt, catharsis or stupidity.

[moughoun]

Sometimes the best place to hide is right out in public.
not in Ireland, everyone know's everyone here

[moughoun]

Much as you may want to, you can't stop people outing themselves for whatever reason, be it guilt, catharsis or stupidity.
that was given as a physchological reason for the amount of IRA informer's, "Catholic guilt complex" they felt they were right for fighting but also guilty for doing it

[moughoun]

how would they stand confessing to a priest? i.e "i'm going to bomb so and so pub on wednesday" would that priest be allowed to go to the police?
yes.........

[Stolly]

Sometimes the best place to hide is right out in public.

This would appear to be not one of those times.

[Seiran]

This would appear to be not one of those times.

lol indeed.

Though one must ask the question, if that tabloid had never printed the article, would he have still turned up dead?

[KB]

RA=nickname for the IRA

I'm sure they are, I hope those guys have running shoes on, they'll need them

On a totally unrelated note, great avatar.

[Royal]

The BBC have put this profile of Denis Donaldson up on their website - may explain a bit of the history...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4877680.stm

[gaz]

On a completely childish and idiotic note - the journalist who tracked him down is called Hugh Jordan. I can't wait to hear a newsreader mis****ounce that one.

[Sgt.Axeman1224]

RIP to the the guy but it is a simple fact in Ireland, you don't betray your brethren. This is the end result of it. Was foolish of him to stay in Ireland.

[JasonH]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/04/nireland-shooting.ap/index.html


Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said Donaldson, 55, had been tortured before being killed -- apparently with one or two shotgun blasts to his head -- inside his isolated home near Glenties, County Donegal, in northwest Ireland. (Watch how slaying influences peace process -- 3:29)

"His right forearm is almost severed," McDowell said. "He was shot in the head and mutilation was done to his body. It's a murder we're dealing with."...

[ZoneOne]

RIP
this shows why the press should stay out of cladestine operations.

They reported numerous "spies" of the CIA and listed there names and such.

Ridiculous in my opinion.

[Royal]

Just been watching Mitchell McLoughlin on BBC news - according to him it was "disident elements withing the British security services"... rofl

[welshmann]

mr adams looked really upset about this on telly.wounder if there was a black and decker drill used:(

[oldsoak]

Hope the Garda get the blokes responsible. Seeing as it was SF project to bring him into the open, I suspect we'll be hearing a bit more on this.

[Holycrusader]

Was he "spy" or just informer?

[moughoun]

Was he "spy" or just informer?
welcome to the wonderful World of Irish politic's

[moughoun]

Just been watching Mitchell McLoughlin on BBC news - according to him it was "disident elements withing the British security services"... rofl
Martin and Gerry came out with that line too.....but honestly if it was the IRA, then it was a stupid move on their part


@KB.p-)

[Royal]

Martin and Gerry came out with that line too.....but honestly if it was the IRA, then it was a stupid move on their part

Wouldn't be the first ;)

I'm not going to speculate, 'cos I don't know who did it, but even if it wasn't sanctioned by the army council, I'm pretty sure that Gerry and Martin have a better idea than me...

[Klepto]

snitches get stitches.