Stakeknife inquiry hits out at MI5

MI5'S initial failure to disclose all it knew about the Army's top spy in the Provisional IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland was a “significant failure”, an independent report into the activities of the agent known as Stakeknife has said.

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The final report of Operation Kenova said that MI5 had “earlier and greater knowledge” of Stakeknife than it had at first stated. The UK Government has been urged to name Stakeknife, with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher stating the refusal to do so is “bordering on farce”.

Operation Kenova found in its interim report that more lives were probably lost than saved through the operation of Stakeknife, an agent who “committed grotesque, serious crime”, including torture and murder.