Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2006

Vol. 617 No. 5

Leaders’ Questions.

Mr. Kenny

People will have been shocked yesterday by the brutal execution of Denis Donaldson in a remote part of County Donegal. The execution bore the hallmarks of the execution of Eamon Collins outside Newry in 1999. Whatever about the past associations in this case, the murder must be condemned out of hand as being a cold, callous and vicious murder. Given that the murder occurred within the Republic, it falls to the Garda to investigate it exclusively. Its responsibility is to bring to justice those responsible for making the decision to carry out the murder.

Given that the investigation is at a very early stage, will the Taoiseach reflect on the following matters? Was the Garda aware that the late Denis Donaldson was living in this part of Donegal? In light of the recent revelations about his past in which he said he was recruited as a British agent because of being compromised at a time when he was vulnerable in his life, was this information communicated to the Government? Was there any request for or contact about protection to be provided by the Garda to Mr. Donaldson? Did this matter surface in respect of the briefings given to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about Northern Ireland issues? Was the Garda aware from its intelligence resources and from the PSNI that Denis Donaldson was a marked man, that his life was under threat and, if so, was the matter discussed?

Has the Taoiseach reflected on the fact that, because of the activities of the police forces, North and South, in attempting to deal with organised criminality, especially in respect of some of the actions taken against some cross-Border personnel, it might have been an attempt by that wing of the movement to exert its authority within the organisation? Having said that, does the Taoiseach consider the murder will have any serious implications for the meeting he is having tomorrow with the British Prime Minister?

The Taoiseach

I will give Deputy Kenny the facts at my disposal. First, this callous murder is a brutal reminder of Northern Ireland's tortured and tragic past and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. At approximately 5 p.m. yesterday, a 999 call was made to ambulance control by a member of the public requesting medical assistance at a house in Clogher Cor, Glenties, County Donegal. The body of Denis Donaldson was discovered at the scene. When gardaí arrived at the scene, they confirmed the deceased to be Denis Donaldson, whom they knew. Mr. Donaldson had received extensive injuries. His right hand was practically severed at the wrist. Two spent shotgun cartridges were found outside the house. The assistant commissioner of the northern division has taken charge of the investigation and a full-scale murder inquiry is now under way. Gardaí are keeping an open mind on the murder at this stage. The scene was preserved and a checkpoint was set up. Liaison with the PSNI was established immediately. The services of the State pathologist were requested. The member of the public who called the ambulance saw the door of Mr. Donaldson's house open between 2.40 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

On the whereabouts of Mr. Donaldson, gardaí became aware in January of his presence at the location where he was subsequently murdered. Following the public attention he received, gardaí visited him and advised him that, because of his circumstances, there was a perceived threat to his life. They offered him advice on his personal security and gave him a telephone number for Glenties Garda station in case he had any concerns. The house where he lived received passing attention from the Garda on an ongoing basis. It should be noted that Mr. Donaldson did not at any time request Garda assistance or protection since that period in January. He was last sighted by gardaí in Glenties the previous day at approximately 5 p.m., which was approximately 24 hours before they received the call to his house.

On Deputy Kenny's other questions, I have no idea at this stage who could have or would have been involved. Given the circumstances, many people would have had an interest in Mr. Donaldson in one form or another. Whoever was responsible for this evil deed was certainly no friend of the peace process or of anyone on this island. I do not know what was on the mind of whoever was responsible. Perhaps it was blind and bitter retribution. Whatever the reason, it was a foul murder and the investigation will have to take place. I note the murder has been condemned by the republican movement, including Sinn Féin and the IRA. It is right that they did so in an unequivocal and timely manner.

It has been made clear that the two Governments will not be deterred from efforts to bring politics centre stage in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and I will travel to Armagh tomorrow and get on with the talks. I have no idea whether the timing of the murder had anything to do with the events this week or whether it is retribution for the past. On whether it will make a difference to the events that will take place tomorrow, it certainly will make the talks more difficult. Something always happens to build up tension when talks are about to take place to try to deal with issues in Northern Ireland. We had been working hard and making some progress. This event will test our resolve and we must try to move on tomorrow.

Mr. Kenny

I assure the Taoiseach this side of the House will continue to offer its support to the Government in having the Good Friday Agreement implemented in full, and in making decisions to bring about the Northern Assembly doing its job again.

I do not know who carried out this murder. Someone took a decision to end Denis Donaldson's life. I note the statement from P. O'Neill saying the IRA had no involvement. The IRA remains an organisation proscribed by the Government. P. O'Neill said the IRA had no involvement in the murder of Detective Jerry McCabe, in the Northern Bank raid or in the murder of Robert McCartney.

I hope the Garda investigation into this murder in Donegal will bring about a speedy identification, if that is possible in a professional hit such as this, to determine who carried out this murder. Those who have declared themselves perennially clean cannot be removed from the investigation. I do not know if those who handled the late Mr. Donaldson, from MI5 of MI6 or whoever was involved, had any involvement. I trust the Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will see that every possible resource required by the Garda to carry out a full investigation as speedily as possible will be made available. I thought we had left behind this sort of tragic, deliberate and controversial murder, but clearly the remnants of hatred, bitterness and revenge remain lodged within some wing or element of whatever organisation or group decided to carry out the murder. I hope it will not interfere with the efforts of the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair to continue discussions and negotiations with the Northern Ireland parties in order that the Assembly is restored and the Good Friday Agreement can be implemented in full, as is the wish of the vast majority of people North and South.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Kenny for his support for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, which is our sole aim. Deputy Kenny is right in saying that whoever is behind this murder, whether an individual, an organisation or a group within an organisation — I hope they are remnants of the past — must be identified. It is important for many reasons that every effort is made to find the culprits, and that as many facts as possible can be established. The Garda and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make every effort, and all necessary resources will be put into achieving this. If I am correct, we were talking about Denis Donaldson just before the Christmas recess, and the fact that he had been uncovered as an agent for MI5 and MI6 and had been involved in certain activities for two decades, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Northern Ireland Executive four years ago. As we approach the Easter recess we are talking about the brutal murder of Denis Donaldson as we try to bring back the Executive again. I hope every effort is made to find the culprits and bring them to justice. That is important in the case of any murder, but particularly this one, because there is great interest in who might still be engaged in such activity, in the Irish jurisdiction or in any part of the island.

Yesterday's evil deed is a reminder of the past, but I assure Deputy Kenny and the House that tomorrow is about the future. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and I will get on with the business of putting the past behind us. We will be asking Northern Ireland politicians to take responsibility to get real progress, and politics, going again, because ultimately the only way we can do that is to have a real political dimension. We will be asking people to sit in the Assembly and to elect an Executive as soon as possible. We will set out how we believe that is possible and allow them time, but it must be done this year. There will be an onus on all the parties, especially the larger ones, to give this initiative a chance. It is time to talk and agree. We hope the parties will take the opportunity which may not come again for some time if not seized this year. I hope politicians can let the Garda carry on the investigations, obviously with the co-operation of the PSNI, while they carry on with the political activity, since the only way we can ultimately stop brutal killings such as occurred yesterday is when politics takes control.