Sunday, May 11, 2003

Stakeknife named Back in March last year, I posted a link to Neil MacKay's exclusive Sunday Herald story about a rogue British intelligence officer codenamed 'Stakeknife' who was reported to be working deep within the IRA, and was at the heart of the St. Patrick's Day break-in, among other major MI5 operations in Northern Ireland.

Today, Neil has published an exclusive story in the Sunday Herald (under his new title of Investigations Editor), and he's named Stakeknife as Alfredo 'Freddy' Scappaticci, the deep-cover British intelligence officer allegedly responsible for the murders of over 40 people, including policemen, soldiers, and Northern Ireland civilians, in order to protect his identify and continue to operate as a spy for the British government in the province.

He is also reported to have tortured and killed numerous members of the IRA who were suspected of being informers.

The exposure of Scappaticci strikes a fatal blow to the heart of the Northern Ireland peace process, and could lead to the founding of a South African-style 'Truth Commission' - something furiously opposed by Unionists who fear implication and exposure in Stakeknife's (and other's) activities.

More on Stakeknife:

Sunday Herald: How Stakeknife infiltrated the IRA and waged terror for the British Army.

BBC News: IRA Informer's cover blown.

Google News search: Stakeknife.