UK’s MI5 protected IRA agent who committed murders, police report finds
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A police report from Operation Kenova, a nearly decade-long investigation, found that the UK's MI5 protected a top IRA double agent, known as "Stakeknife," during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Stakeknife, believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, led the IRA's internal security unit while secretly working for British intelligence. The report states that MI5 allowed Stakeknife to continue committing serious crimes, including murder and abduction, due to a "perverse sense of loyalty," and even removed him from Northern Ireland when he was wanted by police. The investigation also criticized MI5 for obstructing the investigation by delaying the release of key documents. The Troubles, a conflict between Irish republicans and British forces/unionists, resulted in approximately 3,500 deaths before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
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AI-ExtractedOperation Kenova is a nearly decade-long police probe into “Stakeknife”.
Stakeknife led the IRA’s internal security unit.
MI5 protected an IRA double agent who committed murders during Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
MI5 allowed the agent to continue committing serious crimes, blaming a “perverse sense of loyalty”.
Stakeknife has never been formally identified, but he is widely believed to have been Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci.
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