A warrant has been issued for a man to be charged in connection with the murder of Denis Donaldson in County Donegal.

The 55-year-old was shot dead at a cottage on the outskirts of Glenties in April 2006.

He was a senior official within Sinn Féin before he was exposed as a long-time MI5 agent.

This afternoon, Gardaí told an inquest into his death that the Special Criminal Court has now issued a warrant for an individual to be brought before it to be charged with his murder.

The inquest has been adjourned until September 2020 to allow Gardaí time to carry out the criminal proceedings.

The inquest has already been adjourned 22 times.

Speaking outside Letterkenny court this afternoon, solicitor for the Donaldson family, Ciaran Shiels said they are remaining realistic about the prospect of getting answers any time soon.

“In real terms, the possibility, even with a fair wind, of this individual coming to court in this jurisdiction – I think it has to be at least a decade away,” he said.

“So I think it effectively puts the inquest proceedings into perpetuity.”