The Independent

Stakeknife report a ‘damning indictment’ of role of state in NI Troubles

Source: PA Wire

A major investigation into the operation of the British Army’s top agent inside the IRA is a “damning indictment” of the actions of the state during the Troubles, a lawyer representing victims has said.

The interim findings of Operation Kenova found that more lives were probably lost than saved by the actions of Stakeknife.

The probe, which was undertaken by Bedfordshire Police and ran for seven years at a cost of approximately £40 million, examined the role of the Army’s prized agent embedded in the heart of the IRA’s Internal Security Unit (ISU).

The agent Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died last year.

Kevin Winters, who represents a number of victims’ families directly impacted by the report, said there now needed to be a public inquiry into the state level of penetration of the IRA.

Mr Winters said that Scappaticci

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