A former IRA double agent and the alleged commander of a paramilitary group known as “Nutting Squad” has taken his secrets to the grave. Despite years of speculation, no one has ever been able to confirm the true identity of this mysterious figure. Now, with his passing, many are left wondering what secrets he took with him and what impact they might have had on Northern Ireland’s troubled history. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the life and legacy of this enigmatic character and explore the questions that still linger in his wake.
Frederick Scappaticci, a former bricklayer from west Belfast who was alleged to be a senior mole within the Provisional IRA, passed away recently, taking with him a lifetime of secrets and unanswered questions about the Northern Ireland conflict. Known within the IRA as Stakeknife, Scappaticci was a one-time leader of the so-called “nutting squad”, the secret unit responsible for seeking out and eliminating suspected informers within the republican movement. It is alleged that Scappaticci was responsible for as many as twenty murders in his role as a double agent for the British state.
Scappaticci vehemently denied being Stakeknife and left Northern Ireland in 2003 after being unmasked as an alleged mole. He was accused of being involved in some of the most brutal attacks carried out by the IRA during the Troubles and of having been given a free rein to commit crimes in order to bolster his authority within the movement. His activities and the role of the state are currently the subject of an investigation by the UK police, led by the former Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher.
In a statement released following Scappaticci’s death, Boutcher urged caution over closing down investigations into the Troubles, saying that the nature of historical investigations meant that witnesses and perpetrators were increasingly likely to pass away before justice could be served. Nevertheless, he pledged that Kenova, the investigation being led by his team, remained committed to providing the truth to the families of those impacted by the conflict.
Kenova’s investigation is focusing on alleged crimes committed by members of the security forces and on the activities of informers like Scappaticci. The operation has direct access to information from the Ministry of Defence and MI5 and has been granted additional funding to complete its work. It has already led to a number of arrests and charges, including that of an alleged member of the army’s notorious Military Reaction Force.
The investigation is encompassing dozens of cases, some of them highly sensitive and involving allegations of collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. The Public Prosecution Service is due to make decisions on whether to charge anyone in relation to these cases in the coming months. The UK government has been under pressure to introduce a statute of limitations, which would prevent criminal prosecutions against those involved in the Troubles. However, such a move is highly controversial, with many arguing that it would amount to an amnesty for those who committed crimes during the conflict.
The increasing age of those involved in the Troubles means that the search for justice is becoming more urgent. A number of veteran IRA members have already passed away, taking their secrets with them. As the investigation by Kenova continues, it is hoped that answers will finally be provided to the families of victims, who have been waiting for decades for justice to be served.
