‘Stakeknife’ claim man loses bid to clear name

A WEST Belfast man yesterday lost the latest bid to clear his name of allegations that he was the British Army’s top spy in the IRA.

Freddie Scappaticci, 59, had hoped the High Court in Belfast would force the British government to make a public statement saying he was not the spy known as “Stakeknife”.

But he lost a judicial review hearing aimed at forcing Northern Ireland Office Security Minister Jane Kennedy to confirm he was not the agent alleged to have given high grade information on the Provisionals.

Robert Carswell, Lord Chief Justice in Northern Ireland, said in his ruling he had taken into consideration a number of matters including the threat to Mr Scappaticci’s life.

But he ruled that if the British government was to depart from its policy of neither confirming nor denying spying allegations it could put the lives of agents at risk.

Mr Scappaticci has consistently denied the allegations against him, insisting his life had been placed at risk.

During the hearing it emerged that west Belfast man, who has admitted to having been a republican, was granted general security measures following media coverage of the accusations against him.

Mr Scappaticci was denied the key person’s protection scheme in Northern Ireland which would have resulted in him having a police guard.

Justice Carswell ruled in the High Court that the decision by Ms Kennedy not to comment on the claims “did not constitute a breach of the positive obligation placed upon her as a public authority and upon the Government to take appropriate steps to safeguard the applicant’s life”.

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said the decision would enable “faceless and unaccountable” elements in the security services to continue to brief journalists about individuals like Mr Scappaticci.