Scappaticci in High Court action

BELFAST man Freddie Scappaticci is taking High Court action this week aimed at forcing Northern Ireland’s security minister Jane Kennedy to admit if he is – or is not – the IRA double agent codenamed Stakeknife.

If his application for a judicial review succeeds, Scappaticci, 59, could be in line to receive substantial libel damages. Recently, Ms Kennedy said she would not comment on security issues when Scappaticci wrote asking her to confirm he was not Stakeknife.

“We want the minister to confirm that our client is not the agent, spelled as Stakeknife or Steakknife,” said Belfast solicitor Michael Flanigan.

Mr Flanigan will ask the Belfast High Court this week to deal urgently with the application “because Mr Scappaticci’s life could be at risk”.

A self-confirmed member of the republican movement until 13 years ago, Scappaticci has strongly rejected claims he was an informer for the British Army. IRA sources have said many of the allegations made against him were totally baseless.