A senior Sinn Féin official accused of spying on the Government for the IRA risked his life to help save Mr Brian Keenan who was being held hostage in Beirut, a court heard today.
Mr Denis Donaldson (52) Aitnamona Gardens, west Belfast, is accused to having papers containing the details about the British Army's General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Lt Gen Sir Alistair Irwin, a sketch of Castle Buildings, Stormont, and details on loyalists and a serving police officer.
At the second day of a bail hearing, a police officer alleged Mr Donaldson was a key member of the IRA's intelligence gathering unit, forming close links with international terrorist groups, including Basque terrorist movement ETA and the PLO at a bail application today.
However, a defence lawyer told the Northern Ireland High Court that Mr Donaldson totally rejected this accusation. Mr Donaldson faces five charges connected to an alleged republican espionage plot inside the Northern Ireland Secretary's offices at Stormont. He denies the charges.
In a letter to the court providing a character reference, Mr Keenan said: "For the whole period of my incarceration, only two human beings put their lives at risk on my behalf. One was Terry Waite and the other was Denis Donaldson."
Mr Seamus Treacey QC also revealed today Mr Donaldson was one of a number of influential republicans involved in exploratory talks with unionists as early as 1991 - seven years before the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
The court was also told Mr Donaldson was issued with a shotgun licence for clay pigeon shooting earlier this year on appeal to former Secretary of State Dr John Reid.
The judge, Lord Justice Nicholson, adjourned the bail hearing until tomorrow.