First
let me say this: like the overwhelming majority
of people I have no certain knowledge of how Denis
Donaldson met his death, nor who killed him. Having
said this, whilst I can understand why some people
claim it could have been Irish Republicans, as the
PIRA have for them a perfectly valid reason for
wishing the man gone, Republicans are far from the
only people who would be overjoyed to see the demise
of Denis Donaldson and who have an equally valid
reason for killing Mr Donaldson, plus a bloody history
of putting such work into practice in the recent
past.
In
his public statement when he was first outed as
a tout, Mr Donaldson said he had worked for both
MI5 and RUC/PSNI Special Branch. Down the years,
the RUC Special Branch has a history of its informers
and agents of influence being murdered in situations
not dissimilar to Denis Donaldson. Some of them
were like Mr Donaldson, prominent within their own
communities and the wider political ferment in the
north, Jim Craig for example. But a fair few of
the SB touts who met their deaths before time, had
one thing in common with Denis Donaldson: for one
reason or another they had outlived their usefulness
to the UK State.
There
is little doubt many of these touts were involved
in acts of criminal collusion with either serving
officers of the RUC/PSNI SB or MI5. Whether or not
this collusion with criminals by servants of the
British State was officialy sanctioned at a higher
level is of some importance. Whilst a tout like
Messrs Craig, Donaldson or Scappaticci would not
be aware of the fine detail, they would have an
overall picture, as in all probability their handlers,
in the process of bumming them up, would have dropped
the names of important people who appreciated their
work etc. (to use FRU handler 'Martin Ingram's terminology).
Thus, if by some faint chance in the future a public
enquiry into the UK State collusion in criminality
in the north of Ireland were established, whether
in the UK, Republic of Ireland or elsewhere, or
even a Truth and Reconciliation Commission brought
into being, the likes of Mr Scappaticci and, if
they had not been executed, Mr.'s Craig and Donaldson,
would have been vital participants in unravelling
this murky period, either to give evidence to any
enquiry or to ask for amnesty/whatever from a TRC.
Denis Donaldson was closely involved in the crashing
of the Northern Ireland Assembly in what were controversial
circumstances; and if things do not change drastically
the annulment of Good Friday Agreement may well
also be part of his legacy. Thus there must have
been many UK State officials, whether civil servants,
politicians or law enforcement, once Mr Donaldson
had been outed as an agent of influence who quaked
in their boots at the very mention of his name.
If this State collusion with criminals happened
with the authorization of higher authority, then
MI5 would be in the frame as they would be called
upon to organize the dirty deed. Myself I doubt
this, not because they would refuse to stoop to
such behavior, but if the orders came from the top
of the greasy pole they would have no need to act,
as the politicos and senior civil servants could
sit on any inquiry almost indefinitely. Although
this would still leave them to worry over what Mr
Donaldson may tell the foreign media or indeed anyone
when he was in his cups.
However
in the main I doubt UK State collusion in criminality
came about due to pieces of paper containing orders
being passed down the chain of command. In all probability
it would have happened along the lines of 'rid me
of this meddlesome priest'. Thus, those holding
the booby prize when the excreta hit's the fan,
as always will be the foot-soldiers, the police
officers who handled the touts and turncoats at
the coal face, that is, the very people who would
have the means and contacts to dispose of meddlesome
individuals. For most of these SB officers for reasons
of self preservation would have kept back from their
superiors the means to once again put the bite on
the touts they had previously run, if the need arose.
All that would be needed would be to remind one
of their former turncoats about a past favour done,
or criminal act not passed up the line to send a
hit-man into the wilds of Donegal.
After
all, if he exists, I have no doubt the said police
officer would have felt that he had served the UK
State well whilst a serving member of the SB; and
thus is entitled to enjoy his retirement without
having to spend his last days in a prison cell.
In any case, by removing this particular pebble
from the shoe of powerful people is he not simply
serving the State in the manner he has been accustomed
to?
Too fanciful? Well, the senior US police officer
Steven Caracappa, who established the NYPD unit
that dealt with mafia murder investigations, was
recently convicted of being on a retainer of the
Luchese crime family. He was paid a regular sum
for tipping the crime boss off about NYPD investigations
into the family and a bonus for any mob executions
he either carried out personally or helped organize
via criminals he had arrested.
