The last picture of Denis Donaldson at his reomote cottage in Donegal

EXCLUSIVE: GARDAI have uncovered ‘new and significant’ leads in their hunt for the killers of British spy Denis Donaldson, an inquest heard this afternoon.

The lawyers representing the relatives of the murdered Denis Donaldson boycotted today’s hearing at The Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny following plans to adjourn the inquest for the 13th time.

Mr Donaldson, a former IRA member and senior official in Sinn Féin was brutally murdered in a remote cottage just outside the small village of Doochary in 2006.

Lawyers representing his relatives boycotted today’s hearing in protest at plans to adjourn the inquest for the 13th time.

Family solicitor Ciaran Shiels sent a letter of complaint on behalf of Mr Donaldson’s family to today’s hearing.

In the statement he said the family of Mr Donaldson were considering ‘suing’ the state over the ‘undue’ delay of the inquest.

Barrister for An Garda Siochana Stephen Byrne SC said he objected to certain aspects made in his statement.

The letter contained a claim that Mr Donaldson’s journals had no evidential value to the Garda investigation. Mr Byrne said however that Gardai had a different view.

Supt Michael Finan told the case: “Additional matters have been investigated and these are new and significant, I have informed the DPP that additional evidence may be forthcoming.”

The case was adjourned until July 3.

Dr McAuley said he would “much rather” have a criminal case instead of a coroner’s court hearing and said if the criminal case did not develop he would hold an inquest “before the end of the year.”

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in April 2006 at a remote cottage 8kms from Glenties.

He was outed as a British spy five months earlier.