Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3431Murder, attempted murder, possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life · Co. Donegal · 4 Apr 2006

Antoin Duffy charged with Denis Donaldson murder at Special Criminal Court after extradition from Scotland

Denis Donaldson, a 55-year-old Irish man and former Provisional IRA member and senior Sinn Féin official who had been exposed as an MI5 informant, was shot dead on 4 April 2006 at an isolated cottage near the Glenties in south-west Donegal. On 19 November 2007 Liam McGinley was the subject of an attempted murder at Churchill, Co Donegal. Antoin Duffy, a 49-year-old Irish man from Braade, Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, who had been in prison in Scotland after a 2015 conviction for his part in a plot to murder UDA members, was extradited from Scotland on a European arrest warrant and arrested at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell, Dublin. On 30 March 2026 he was charged at the Special Criminal Court with Donaldson's murder, the attempted murder of McGinley and four Firearms Act 1925 offences, and the court made an order for a non-jury trial. He was remanded in custody after legal aid was approved and is due to appear again on 13 April.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged30 Mar
    3 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Denis Donaldson, a 55-year-old Irish man, was a former Provisional IRA member and senior Sinn Féin official.
  • Donaldson was exposed as an MI5 informant and publicly acknowledged his role as a double agent at a press conference in Dublin on 16 December 2005.
  • Antoin Duffy, also known as Anton, is an Irish man from Braade, Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, aged 49; one report says he is in his late 40s.
  • Liam McGinley, also named as Liam Copeland McGinley, was the subject of an attempted murder on 19 November 2007 at Churchill, Co Donegal; reports differ on whether the location was Meenaboll, Churchill.
When
Donaldson was shot dead on 4 April 2006 at an isolated cottage near the Glenties in south-west Donegal.
Cause
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the murder.
Weapon
The charges include possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life between 3 and 4 April 2006 at Cloghercor, Doochary, near the Glenties.
Other details
Duffy had been in prison in Scotland following his 2015 conviction for his part in a plot to murder members of the Ulster Defence Association.
Investigation
Duffy was extradited from Scotland with the help of the Irish Air Corps and a Garda extradition unit, which sources name differently, and Det Gda Adrian Aherne, also spelled Ahern, said he arrested him at 1.22pm at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell, Dublin.
Charges
Duffy is charged with six offences: the murder of Donaldson, the attempted murder of McGinley and four offences under the Firearms Act 1925.
In court
  • Duffy was charged on 30 March 2026 at the Special Criminal Court, where the DPP certified that the ordinary courts were not adequate and Mr Justice Patrick McGrath made the order for a non-jury trial.
  • The court approved legal aid for Duffy, and he was remanded in custody to appear in person on 13 April.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported, as the case is at the pre-trial stage.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAntoin Duffy was charged at the Special Criminal Court with the murder of Denis Donaldson. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDuffy was extradited from Scotland with the help of the Irish Air Corps. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDenis Donaldson was a former member of the Provisional IRA and a high-ranking Sinn Féin official. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDenis Donaldson was exposed as an MI5 informant. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDenis Donaldson was 55 at the time of his fatal shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDuffy was in prison in Scotland following his 2015 conviction for his part in a plot to murder UDA members. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Real IRA claimed responsibility for the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDonaldson was a former member of the Provisional IRA and senior Sinn Féin official. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDonaldson was exposed as an MI5 informant months before his death. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn 2005, Donaldson was arrested and accused of being part of a republican spy ring based at Stormont. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhen the spy ring case collapsed in December 2005, Donaldson was exposed as a long-standing British agent. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDenis Donaldson was a former Provisional IRA member and high-ranking Sinn Féin official. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDonaldson was shot dead at the age of 55. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDonaldson publicly acknowledged his role as a double agent at a press conference in Dublin on December 16, 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDuffy is from Braade, Kincasslagh, Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDenis Donaldson lived at an isolated cottage near the Glenties in south-west Donegal where he was shot. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDonaldson was shot dead in a remote cottage in southwest Donegal in April 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDonaldson lived at an isolated cottage near the Glenties in south-west Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDuffy was arrested at 1.22pm at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDuffy was handed the charge sheet at 2.35pm at the Criminal Courts of Justice building. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDenis Donaldson was shot dead on April 4, 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDenis Donaldson held a press conference in Dublin on December 16, 2005, acknowledging his role as a double agent. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe attempted murder of McGinley occurred on November 19th, 2007, near Churchhill, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenDuffy was arrested at 1.22pm at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDonaldson was shot dead on April 4, 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe arrest was carried out with the assistance of the Garda Extradition Unit, GNBi and the Irish Air Corps. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in the Donegal division arrested Duffy at Casement Aerodrome following his extradition from Scotland on foot of a European arrest warrant. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe arrest was carried out with the assistance of the Garda Síochána extradition unit, GNBC and the Air Corps. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with six offences including murder and attempted murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life between April 3 and April 4, 2006 at Cloghercor, Doochary, near the Glenties in Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAntoin Duffy, also known as Anton, with an address at Braade, Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, was charged with the murder and four offences under the Firearms Act 1925. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDuffy was also charged with the attempted murder of Liam Copeland McGinley. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDuffy was charged with one count of possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and one count of possession of ammunition with intent. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with six offences including the murder of Denis Donaldson and the attempted murder of Liam McGinley. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life between April 3 and April 4, 2006 at Cloghercor, Doochary, near the Glenties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with the murder of Denis Donaldson on the same date and location as the shotgun charge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with possession of a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life at Churchill, Donegal, on November 19, 2007. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDuffy is charged with the attempted murder of Liam McGinley at Churchill, Donegal, on November 19, 2007. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP certified the ordinary courts are not adequate to hear the trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Patrick McGrath presided and agreed to make the order for trial at the non-jury court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA 49-year-old man was charged with the murder of Denis Donaldson at the Special Criminal Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA solicitor for the State applied for an order to have Duffy tried on all six charges at the non-jury court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP certified that the ordinary courts were not adequate to hear the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Patrick McGrath agreed to make the order for trial at the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court approved legal aid for Duffy and he was remanded in custody to appear in person on April 13th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDuffy appeared before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP certified that the ordinary courts are not adequate to hear the trial, and Mr Justice Patrick McGrath agreed to make the non-jury order. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDuffy, originally from Donegal, had been in prison in Scotland following his 2015 conviction for his part in a plot to murder members of the Ulster Defence Association. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí described the arrested man as being in his late 40s. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Mar2026
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Pictured: Antoin Duffy charged with Denis Donaldson murder after extradition

    First report of Duffy's charging at the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Scotland; details the six charges, the DPP's non-jury certification, and background on Donaldson's exposure as an MI5 informant.

    accused, Antoin Duffy, late 40s, male, named, irish (judged from name)Antoin Duffyvictim, Denis Donaldson, 55, male, irish (judged from name)Denis Donaldsonvictim, Liam McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Liam McGinley
  2. 30 Mar2026
    Chargedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Denis Donaldson: Man charged with murder of former IRA member

    Reports the charging of Antoin Duffy at the Special Criminal Court for the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson, following his arrest at Casement Aerodrome after extradition from Scotland. The DPP certified the ordinary courts were not adequate, and Judge Patrick McGrath made the order for trial at the non-jury court.

    victim, Denis Donaldson, male, irish (judged from name)Denis Donaldsonsuspect, Antoin Duffy, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Antoin Duffyvictim, Liam Copeland McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Liam Copeland McGinley
  3. 30 Mar2026
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Denis Donaldson murder: Man charged after being flown in by Irish Air Corps

    First report of Duffy's charging at the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Scotland. The DPP certified the ordinary courts are not adequate, and the court made an order for trial at the non-jury court.

    victim, Denis Donaldson, 55, male, Irish, irishDenis Donaldsonaccused, Antoin Duffy, 49, male, Irish, named, irishAntoin Duffyvictim, Liam McGinley, male, Irish, irishLiam McGinley