A BURNLEY drug dealer with connections to the IRA has died aged 35.

Kevin “Tiny” Donaghey, of Paythorne Avenue, died on Tuesday at Blackpool Victoria hospital following suspected cardiac arrest after apparently taking drugs.

Northern Ireland-born Donaghey was “well known” to police in the town and had a string of convictions for offences including drug dealing and driving while disqualified.

He was also implicated in a 2005 kidnap trial which linked him to the deaths of Irish police officers during the Troubles.

Det Sgt Vinny De Curtis, from Burnley CID, said Donaghey’s death was not being treated as suspicious but officers were assisting the coroner with inquiries.

He added: “We have got to make sure that there’s no foul play in his death or anything like that but we are not suspecting he has been murdered.

He said Donaghey could have taken ecstasy, and failed to take his diabetes medication. Donaghey first came to the attention of police in Burnley in 2001 when he was charged with a string of drugs offences after moving to the town from Northern Ireland.

He admitted possessing cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis with intent to supply at Burnley Crown Court but was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

The court had heard that Donaghey was on £135-a-fortnight benefits but had become addicted to cocaine.

In 2005, he was implicated during a high-profile trial at Preston Crown Court which centred around a plot to kidnap a Burnley “career criminal”.

The court was told Donaghey was a member of the IRA who helped set up police officers and members of the security services to be murdered by paramilitaries.

Meanwhile, he appeared again in front of magistrates in 2006 when he was handed a community order with nine months’ supervision after admitting driving while disqualified.

A post-mortem is due to be undertaken today or Friday before an inquest into Donaghey’s death is opened opened next week.