'More lives were probably lost than saved through the operation'

BRITAIN'S top spy inside the IRA carried out “grotesque” torture and killings with MI5's knowledge, a nine-year investigation has found.

- BY REBECCA BLACK

Army agent “Stakeknife” murdered at least 14 people and was involved in 15 abductions while undercover in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

The final report of Operation Kenova found that security services knew about this despite claims to only have a “peripheral” role.

The independent criminal inquiry, first headed by Jon Boutcher — now Chief Constable of Northern Ireland — and then Sir Iain Livingstone, a former Chief Constable of Scotland, said MI5 was involved in “tasking” Stakeknife through military handlers.

The agency also got debriefs on all his intelligence and had discussions about his “role, importance and use”.

At a press conference yesterday Sir Iain said there was a “compelling ethical case” for the UK government to formally reveal Stakeknife’s identity”. He is widely believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, a West Belfast man who died aged 77 in 2023 of natural causes.

But ministers said identifying agents would risk national security.