“The family are of the view it is vital that the police ombudsman receives this journal…”

As I noted back in January this year, an inquest has yet to be held into the death of former senior Sinn Féin member, and informer, Denis Donaldson in 2006 – responsibility for which was claimed by the Real IRA.  And, despite a previous NI Police Ombudsman‘s finding that there had been no police misconduct here, the new incumbent launched an investigation into allegations that officers may have contributed to his death.  But that investigation is, reportedly, facing obstruction from the An Garda Siochana – who have refused to let investigators have access to a journal written by Denis Donaldson, which was removed from the scene of his death in Donegal by garda officers.

From the BBC report

The family was initially told that the journal would be returned to them, but later informed this was not possible for what were described as security reasons. [Added emphasis]

Ombudman Michael Maguire’s investigators want to read it as part of their inquiry into the allegations that police officers may have contributed to Denis Donaldson’s death.

The Ombudsman has told the BBC that despite the refusal to make the journal available, investigators have uncovered “new and significant lines of inquiry which are well under way.”

A solicitor for the family said they cannot understand why one law enforcement agency will not share information with another.

“The family are of the view it is vital that the police ombudsman receives this journal because they believe it could contain potentially important information,” said solicitor Ciaran Shiels.

“The police ombudsman’s office obviously sees it as a live line of inquiry and it’s extremely disappointing that the garda (Irish police) are obstructing the investigation.

“I think its ridiculous, I think it’s nonsensical, I think it’s completely illogical. The police ombudsman is only attempting to investigate an issue characterised by them as being grave and exceptional and it’s simply beyond the family’s reason as to why the garda would obstruct them.”

Perhaps he wasn’t just providing information about the activities of Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA to the UK authorities…  Just a thought.