British spy Denis Donaldson was murdered by a shotgun wound to his chest, post-mortem results confirmed tonight.
Examinations of the 56-year-old former Sinn Fein official also revealed he suffered severe injuries to his right hand in the attack at a run-down cottage in Co Donegal.
Gardai disclosed details of state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy's report on the brutal killing of the veteran republican who informed on his colleagues for more than 20 years.
He was shot dead in a house belonging to his son-in-law Ciaran Kearney where Donaldson had been living since Donaldson admitted he was a spy just before Christmas.
Gardai also said a technical examination of the murder scene, just outside the tiny town of Glenties, would continue tomorrow with the assistance of members of the force's water and dog units.