Pensioner charged over Denis Donaldson murder

A 74-year-old man has appeared in court in Dublin charged in connection with the murder of Denis Donaldson.

The senior Sinn Féin official was shot dead at an isolated cottage near Glenties in Co Donegal in April 2006.

Denis Donalson had been living a quiet life in the hills of Donegal for months after it emerged he'd been working as an MI5 agent for over 20 years. 

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the murder in 2008 but an inquest into the controversial shootying has been adjourned almost 20 times.

The circumstances surrounding Mr Donaldson's outing as a British agent and subsequent murder have long been shrouded in mystery.

He was a close ally to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and Northern Ireland's current Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.

Patrick Gillespie, with an address in Craigvar Street in Glasgow, was today charged with withholding information regarding the involvement of another person involved in Mr.Donaldson's killing. 

Gillespie also has an address in Donegal.

He was remanded in custody until a later bail hearing.