British government declines to name Stakeknife despite 'deeply disturbing' behaviour

James Cox

The British government has again refused to name its army’s top spy in the Provisional IRA, known only by the codename 'Stakeknife', despite admitting his behaviour was "deeply disturbing".

Operation Kenova published its final report on Tuesday. Kenova was set up in 2016 to investigate the activities of Stakeknife within the Provisional IRA’s internal security unit.

The operation's chief, Iain Livingstone, said there is a “compelling ethical case for the UK government to derogate from the Neither Confirm Nor Deny (NCND) policy regarding the agent Stakeknife’s identity”.

He added: “It is in the public interest that Stakeknife is named.”

The report noted that Stakeknife “committed a grotesque, serious crime” including torture and murder.

The agent known as Stakeknife is widely believed to be West Belfast man, Freddie Scappaticci. He died in 2023, aged 77.

Operation Kenova examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the IRA internal security unit.

The unit was responsible for interrogating and torturing people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the Troubles.

The final Kenova report updates 10 recommendations made in the interim report last year, including a call for the UK government to acknowledge and apologise to bereaved families and surviving victims.

It also includes a call for a full apology from the Republican Movement for the Provisional IRA’s abduction, torture and murder of those it suspected of being agents.

Operation Denton has found that the UVF was responsible for the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and there was no specific intelligence that could have prevented the attacks, which claimed 33 lives.

The final report of Operation Kenova details the “very sordid story” of the top British agent in the Provisional IRA, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin said Stakeknife was “responsible for the deaths of so many people”, as the Taoiseach supported calls for his identity to be revealed by the UK government.

He told reporters in Dublin: “The report is very clear about the unacceptable nature of state involvement and utilisation of this agent, which led to so many deaths, and it is also very clear about the campaign of terror that the Provisional IRA waged within their own communities.”

The Taoiseach added: “The agent should be named; everybody knows who the agent is.”

Mr Martin said he regretted that the full report of Operation Denton had yet to be published.

However, he said there was a “seismic” finding in the summary report, which said a network of loyalist paramilitaries, aided by members of the RUC and UDR, was responsible for murdering around 120 people.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn thanked the Kenova team for the “exemplary way” in which it carried out its work.

On Stakeknife, Mr Benn said: “The behaviour described of the alleged agent, and their role in the Provisional IRA, is deeply disturbing.

“It should not have happened, and in recent decades there have been significant reforms to agent handling practice, including through legislation.”

On the request to identify the agent, Mr Benn said: “Due to ongoing litigation relevant to the Neither Confirm Nor Deny (NCND) policy, namely the Thompson Supreme Court appeal, a substantive and final response to your request will be provided after judgment has issued in that case.

“The Government’s first duty is, of course, to protect national security, and identifying agents' risks jeopardising this.” - Additional reporting from Press Association