A report into the top British mole inside the IRA has concluded his actions probably resulted in “more lives being lost than saved”.
Freddie Scappaticci, codenamed ‘Stakeknife’, headed the IRA‘s “nutting squad”, a unit tasked with identifying informants, but was himself operating as a spy for British intelligence.
The seven-year investigation found the security forces were frequently aware of imminent abductions and murders but failed to protect those at risk.
As a result, preventable deaths occurred with their knowledge and those responsible were not brought to justice and were instead left free to reoffend.
The report stopped short of confirming Scappaticci as Stakeknife, but it made clear:
• He did exist and was an individual rather than a collective of different agents as has been speculated • He was involved in “very serious and wholly unjustifiable criminality”, including murder • Claims that his intelligence saved “countless” or “hundreds” of lives are exaggerated • The number of lives he saved is between high single figures and low double figures
It said: “Victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice.”
A former defence chief once branded Scappaticci “the goose that laid the golden eggs” and claimed his actions had saved hundreds of lives.
But the investigation found those claims to be “inherently implausible… a comparison rooted in fables and fairy tales”.
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The report calls on the UK government to acknowledge many murders were avoidable and to apologise to bereaved families.
Image: A British soldier on duty in Belfast in 1996. Pic: PA
But the most damning words in the 200-page document relate to “the most shameful and evil” actions of the Provisional IRA.
“It was PIRA that committed the brutal acts of torture and murder, each evil act being the epitome of cowardice,” it states.
It claims senior republicans condoned “and still condone” those activities and calls on them to accept wrongdoing and to apologise.
The report also recommends that the longest day, 21 June, be designated as a day to remember those killed or injured during the troubles.
Who was Stakeknife?
Scappaticci, the son of Italian parents, grew up in Belfast and had trials with Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
He joined the IRA in the 1970s and was linked to 18 murders, but died last year, aged 77, having never faced trial for any of them.
Briefly interred without trial, he was recruited by the army’s Force Research Unit, which ran informants, and was its most valued asset.
He exemplified “the dirty war” between British intelligence agencies and the IRA – a world of espionage and turning a blind eye to murder.
Image: The PPS found insufficient evidence to prosecute any former IRA member or soldier. Pic: PA
‘Judge, jury and executioner’
Described as “judge, jury and executioner” of the IRA unit hunting informants within, some estimate he directed up to 30 murders.
His activities became the focus of Operation Kenova, a £40m investigation, launched by Jon Boutcher, former chief constable of Bedfordshire in 2016.
Mr Boutcher was appointed chief constable in Northern Ireland last year and passed the Kenova baton to Sir Iain Livingstone, former chief constable of Police Scotland.
Operation Kenova submitted 28 files for consideration, but the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) found there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any former IRA member or soldier.
The PPS said 32 people were considered for prosecution across a range of charges, from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury.
Sixteen were former IRA members, 12 were retired military personnel, two had links to MI5, one was a former police officer and another was a former prosecutor.
But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.
It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.
Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.
With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.
Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.
But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.
When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.
There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.
Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.
Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
However, he will continue to be known as a prince.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.
He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.
“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”
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Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?
Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.
More on Prince Andrew
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Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”
Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.
Image: Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.
“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”
Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.
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Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew
Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.
Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide
The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.
They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.
Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.
Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.
He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”
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Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News
Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.
“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.
Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.
The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.
Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.
“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”
The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”
Image: Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.
“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.
“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”
They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.
“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.