Former UK spy found dead

A former member of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein who spied for Britain was found shot dead yesterday, just two days before a fresh bid by London and Dublin to end Northern Ireland's political stalemate.

Police in the Republic of Ireland confirmed they were investigating the discovery of a man in his mid-50s in the north-western county of Donegal.

"The State Pathologist has been contacted and the scene is being preserved pending the arrival of the Garda Technical Team," the police said in a statement.

They did not name the man but a police source confirmed local media reports that it was Denis Donaldson who last year was expelled from Sinn Fein, which wants to end British rule in Northern Ireland, after he admitted spying for London.

"I am satisfied that it is who it is reported to be," the source said, adding that it was too early to say whether he had been killed or taken his own life.

The Irish government issued a statement describing it as a "brutal murder". "The matter is now under investigation. We hope that whoever is responsible for this callous act will be brought to justice as soon as possible."