The recently released interim report on Operation Kenova has revealed that British security forces knowingly allowed the occurrence of multiple murders of UK citizens to safeguard an informant within an armed resistance group active in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
This report, presented by the former head of the investigation, Jon Boutcher, sheds light on the activities of an alleged government agent named Stakeknife. Operation Kenova, initiated in 2016, focused on investigating Stakeknife’s purported role in the kidnappings, torture, and murders carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). The findings suggest a deliberate failure on the part of security forces to prevent these murders, raising questions about the prioritization of protecting the informant over the safety of UK citizens.
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Jon Boutcher, who departed the Operation Kenova probe in 2023 to assume the role of chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, released a preliminary report due to sluggish progress in the associated prosecution. He criticized MI5, the British domestic counterintelligence agency, accusing it of attempting to undermine both him and the investigation. Boutcher’s report highlighted persistent concerns about accessing information from MI5, alleging a deliberate strategy of delay.
The document revealed that legal representatives of former security force personnel connected to the cases received greater access to MI5 materials. MI5 purportedly obstructed Operation Kenova from presenting evidence against the chief suspect, Freddie Scappaticci (widely presumed to be Stakeknife), and other security personnel in October 2019, citing expired building security accreditation. The report stated that relevant documents were only submitted in February 2020.
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Examining 101 murders linked to the IRA’s “nutting squad,” responsible for interrogating those suspected of collaborating with state security, the probe identified Stakeknife as a key figure. Stakeknife was allegedly personally involved in 14 murders and 15 abductions, challenging claims that he saved “hundreds” of lives through cooperation with authorities as “implausible” and “rooted in fables.”
Boutcher acknowledged, based on the report’s findings, that British security services permitted murders to protect informant identities within the IRA. He also revealed a “maverick culture” in handling agents, and practiced “off the books.”
“Murders that should and could have been prevented were allowed to take place,” the police chief said. “Estate agents do need to be protected through anonymity and secrecy, but that protection cannot confer de facto immunity or a right to act with impunity as that would be wholly incompatible with the rule of law and human rights,” he added.
Kevin Winters, the legal representative for 12 families of murder victims associated with the Operation Kenova investigation, accused the authorities of effectively colluding with terrorists to cause harm to British nationals for their own interests. He conveyed this troubling perspective, stating, “We are left with the horrendous conclusion and takeaway message that both the state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of some of its citizens,” as reported by the Guardian.
The paper did not officially disclose the agent’s identity, consistent with Jon Boutcher’s adherence to the government’s confidentiality policy. Despite this, Boutcher emphasized the presence of “strong evidence of very serious criminality” on the part of Mr. Scappaticci, asserting that his prosecution would have served the interests of victims, families, and justice.
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Scappaticci consistently denied being Stakeknife. However, he passed away at the age of 77 in April 2023 without facing any charges.
The UK government refrained from commenting on the report, citing its interim status as the reason for withholding remarks on the findings.