The family of former senior Sinn Féin member Denis Donaldson has expressed serious concerns over the Garda investigation into his murder.
Mr Donaldson (56) was hit by four shotgun blasts at his remote cottage at Classey, five miles from Glenties on the back road to Doochary, on April 3rd, 2006.
His family released a statement yesterday following the opening of the inquest into his death yesterday at Letterkenny Coroner's Court. The inquest was adjourned until May 15th next.
They confirmed they had made formal complaints to both the Garda Ombudsman and the Garda Complaints Board as their confidence in the investigation has been "seriously undermined".
A Garda spokesman said they do not comment on issues that have been brought to the attention of the Garda Ombudsman.
Mr Donaldson's brother, David, was at the brief hearing. A solicitor for the family said they had concerns over a number of issues in relation to Mr Donaldson's death, including failure of gardaí to give advance warning to Denis about any perceived threats to his life.
The solicitor said the family has also requested confirmation of information given by members of the murder investigation team to the press, that Mr Donaldson's cottage was under electronic surveillance from the Garda and British security forces.
He also confirmed that Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams wrote three months ago, at the family's request, to the Minister for Justice raising their concerns.
Supt Eugene McGovern, who is leading the murder investigation, told the court that gardaí would be seeking an adjournment while criminal proceedings were "being considered".
Coroner Dr Denis McCauley agreed to adjourn the inquest for six months. He said he wanted to establish a cause of death and that Mr Donaldson's body had been positively identified.
Mr Donaldson had been Sinn Féin's head of administration at Stormont before his 2002 arrest over alleged spying led to its collapse.
However, he and two others were acquitted in December 2005 "in the public interest".
He was expelled from Sinn Féin the following week after admitting he had been a paid British spy for 20 years. Shortly afterwards, he moved out of his Belfast home and had been living in the run-down cottage, which had neither electricity nor running water, until his death.