We're not holding IRA spy - British army

The alleged IRA agent known as Stakeknife – who categorically denies working for British military intelligence – is not in the custody of the army, the British Minister of Defence claimed today.

As a lawyer for Freddie Scappaticci, 45, from west Belfast, insisted he had never been an informer or had contact with the intelligence services, an MoD spokesman said he was not with them.

Security sources said police and troops had been involved in an operation to move him out of Belfast early on Sunday, but confusion about his whereabouts, and his codename, deepened today.

Scappaticci’s lawyer Michael Flanigan said in a statement: “He has never been taken into protective custody and has never received any money from the security services.”

Security sources claimed Scappaticci, a builder alleged to have been part of the IRA’s internal security department and said to have been working for British intelligence since 1987, was no longer in Northern Ireland.

The Minister of Defence confirmed the British army had run an agent in Northern Ireland, who was known to them as ‘Steak Knife’.

Asked if he was now in their custody, he replied: “No.”

When asked if he had been in their custody at any time since Sunday, he said he did not know.

He said: “Sir John Stevens has made it known that he wishes to interview Steak Knife in connection with his ongoing inquiry. It would therefore be inappropriate for the MoD to comment further.”.

Mr Stevens, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, is investigating collusion between security forces in Ulster and paramilitary killers.

Even though Scappaticci’s codename has been spelt Stakeknife in media reports, an army spokesman said the agent they had been running in Northern Ireland was known as ‘Steak Knife’.

In a statement, Mr Flanigan said Scappaticci’s life had been put in danger and as a result he was now in hiding.

It added: “He has not been arrested and no attempt has been made by the police to speak to him about any of the matters referred to by the media.

“He has not been contacted by the Stevens investigation team.”

Mr Flanigan said his client had been the victim of misinformation, apparently emanating from the security forces and disseminated by the press.

He added: “Mr Scappaticci is an ordinary working man living in west Belfast and as such has no means at his disposal to combat this onslaught of false allegations.”

Mr Flanigan said he had been instructed by Mr Scappaticci to make the statement.

He added: “Mr Scappaticci has been compelled to issue this statement as a result of the intense media speculation about him. In the interest of protecting his privacy, no further statement will be issued at this time.”