The controversial case of ‘Stakeknife’, an alleged mole for the British army within the IRA, has resurfaced following the death of a man in Belfast. The man, who is believed to have been Stakeknife, died on Sunday, leading to renewed interest in the case, which has been shrouded in secrecy for decades. BreakingNews.ie brings you the latest developments in the story of one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Northern Irish Troubles.
Freddie Scappaticci, an alleged British Army spy within the Provisional IRA, has passed away at the age of 70. The former mole, who was known as Stakeknife, has always denied his alleged association with the British security services. Scappaticci was buried last week. He worked for the IRA’s “nutting squad”, an infamous unit that interrogated and sometimes killed suspected informants. The alleged activities of Stakeknife are part of Operation Kenova, an investigation spearheaded by Jon Boutcher, the former chief constable of Bedfordshire. The inquiry, which is looking into torture and murder linked to Stakeknife, including the role of MI5, is set to publish its interim findings later this year.
In a statement, Boutcher said that his team had been made aware of Scappaticci’s death last week and were working to assess its impact on the investigation. He added that the team remained committed to uncovering the truth behind the crimes associated with Stakeknife and would continue to pursue criminal charges against several individuals. Boutcher also stated that he understood some people might feel more able to come forward and speak to the Kenova team now that Scappaticci had passed away. He called on anyone with relevant information, even those previously hesitant to come forward, to contact the Kenova team in confidence.
Scappaticci had always denied being Stakeknife, saying the accusations were a “completely false and malicious fabrication”. However, his name had frequently been mentioned in connection with the allegations. In 2019, the former director of public prosecutions in Northern Ireland, Barra McGrory, revealed that Scappaticci had been given assurances that he would not be prosecuted. The hopes of Stakeknife’s victims that they would eventually get justice were dealt a further blow by the ruling earlier this year that the Kenova inquiry could not compel former soldiers to give evidence, which has led to accusations of bias in favour of the military.
The allegations surrounding Scappaticci have long been a source of controversy and legal dispute. In 2018, the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal overturned a ruling that had allowed Scappaticci to remain anonymous throughout the Kenova investigation. He had argued that revealing his identity would put him in danger of both physical harm and prosecution. However, the court ruled that maintaining his anonymity was unjustified, and his identity was revealed.
Some have criticised the Kenova inquiry as being insufficiently independent, given that Boutcher is a former member of the British police force. Responding to such criticisms, Boutcher has acknowledged that his association with the police could be seen as problematic and has made great efforts to ensure his team operates without prejudice. Boutcher has stated that those impacted by the crimes being investigated are his priority, and he is determined to get to the truth of the matter.
The allegations surrounding Stakeknife have been a source of ongoing controversy and discontent, with many victims and their family members feeling forgotten or marginalised by official responses. The death of Scappaticci has intensified these feelings, as many hoped that he might eventually be called to answer for his alleged role in the murders and torture of numerous individuals. However, with the Kenova inquiry ongoing, there remains the possibility that further individuals will be held responsible for the crimes committed during the Troubles.
