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.