Wednesday 19/11/2003 Press Association
An intelligence officer who allegedly controlled the top British mole inside the IRA has been exposed, it emerged tonight. He could now be forced into court by other former operatives who are threatening legal action against the IRA mole, named as Stakeknife, it was claimed.
A photograph of the man and his name have been posted on a US web site. He is pictured with other members of the Force Research Unit, a covert Army intelligence wing that handled terrorist moles during the 30-year dirty war in Northern Ireland.
The FRU has been at the centre of an exhaustive inquiry by Britain's top police officer into alleged security force collusion with loyalist paramilitary killers. Military authorities refused to comment on the internet claim, but a leading human rights campaigner said it was a significant development.
Jane Winter, of the London-based British Irish Rights Watch, said: "It's another piece of the jigsaw and another possible way into what went on. "Everything FRU has done has been done in our name but we have never been allowed to know what's going on, make anyone accountable or ask anybody direct questions.
"Any information that comes to light that opens another avenue to pursue the truth has got to be significant. "Scotland Yard chief Sir John Stevens's latest report uncovered damning evidence that FRU and Royal Ulster Constabulary special branch officers collaborated in the murders of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane and Protestant teenager Adam Lambert.
Sir John and his team have now switched the focus of their 12-year probe to Stakeknife, who was named in press reports earlier this year as republican Freddie Scappaticci. Mr Scappaticci has strenuously denied he is the FRU agent who, it is claimed, was paid up to £80,000 a year and allowed to get away with dozens of murders.
Stakeknife allegedly once headed the IRA's infamous Internal Security Unit - also know as the Nutting Squad, which tortured and killed informers. As one of the Government's most powerful weapon in its 30-year war against the IRA, he is suspected of being allowed to get away with up to 40 murders.
Police officers, soldiers, civilians and loyalists were all killed to protect Stakeknife's cover and enable him to continue passing vital intelligence, it is alleged. Sir John confirmed his third investigation is now centred on the spy.
Files on up to 25 members of the security forces have already been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland. Even though the man named as Stakeknife's handler is not included in these papers, Sir John has made it clear further developments are expected.
Earlier this month, he said: "We haven't put any documentation to the DPP in relation of Stakeknife yet. Obviously we plan to. "The alleged FRU officer is pictured alongside a woman who is thought to have handled Brian Nelson, the UDA double agent who directed loyalist gunmen to their targets. A Ministry of Defence gagging order has prevented her name being published.
Brigadier Gordon Kerr, former commanding officer of the unit and now British military attaché in Beijing, is also in the photograph. It is not known when the photo was taken or whether the man named as Stakeknife's handler is still a military operative.
But intelligence sources insisted it was a major breakthrough to have Stakeknife's alleged handler put into the public domain for the first time. At least one ex-agent who went undercover in the IRA during the 1990s, known as Kevin Fulton, has lodged a complaint with police about how he was allegedly interrogated by Stakeknife.
It is believed the man identified as the agent's handler has also been named in secret papers lodged at the High Court in London by an ex-colleague. Intelligence sources claimed others may also now consider taking legal action.
"This is another layer of the skin coming away," one said. "People can now identify someone who is said to be Stakeknife's handler and bring them to book," one said.
"Under oath he would have to say if Scappaticci was this spy."
Ms Winter agreed that anyone wanting to take the Government to court over the allegations would be boosted by the revelations. "Any decent lawyer would tell them this is potentially a relevant witness for their case. If you have a name it's that much easier to track them down," she said.
But the campaigner also expressed concerns about the decision to disclose his identity on the internet.
"There are some ethical questions over naming people on websites and putting their lives at risk.
"I would rather see these people at a public inquiry than at a funeral."
A MoD spokesman refused to discuss whether military chiefs were aware of the posting. He said: "We do not comment on security issues."