Denis Donaldson, former chief of Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein party whose admission of being a British spy for 20 years had sent shock waves across the province,was found shot dead late Tuesday afternoon in Ireland.

His body was found near the village of Glenties in Ireland.

Police have sealed off the area for forensic inspection, Sky news reported.

The Irish Republic Army, the para-military wing of Sinn Fein which declared to disarmament last year, issued a statement following the news saying it had "no involvement whatsoever" in the shooting.

Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein which advocates Northern Ireland's unification with the Irish Republic, said he was not prepared to speculate on who might have been responsible.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said "whoever was responsible for this callous act will be brought to justice as soon as possible."

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he was "completely appalled" at this "barbaric act".

Donaldson was expelled from Sinn Fein in December after admitting of working as a British agent in Northern Ireland for 20 years.

Donaldson, 55, was Sinn Fein's administration chief at Stormont before he was arrested in 2002 over spying allegation.

Since his admission of spying for the British government last December, Donaldson had moved out of his home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and had been living in a cottage in Ireland without electricity or running water, said the report.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2006 )