Man returns to court over 'stakeknife' claims

A west Belfast man was today preparing for the latest legal bid to clear his name of allegations that he was the British Army’s most prized agent at the heart of the IRA.

Belfast High Court will consider a judicial review brought by lawyers acting for Freddie Scappaticci of the British government’s refusal to comment on allegations that he was the British spy, “Stakeknife”.

Mr Scappaticci wants Northern Ireland Office Security Minister Jane Kennedy to make a public statement exonerating him.

A High Court bid by him on Tuesday to force the minister into court to discuss the allegations failed.

After he was identified by several newspapers and a website as Stakeknife, British intelligence sources insisted Mr Scappaticci supplied information on the IRA during the Troubles.

The 59-year-old strenuously denied the allegations but has admitted to having been involved in republicanism.

In June he was granted leave in the High Court for a bid to force Ms Kennedy to break her silence.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Kerr said there was an arguable case that Mr Scappaticci’s life was in “real and immediate danger as a result of the disclosures that have been made about him in the press”.

The judge said: “The history of the murder of informers is too well known to allow any other conclusion.

“The critical issue, therefore, is whether the minister is under a duty to make the statement sought.

“Where claims have been made in the media that Mr Scappaticci is Stakeknife, the silence of the authorities on those claims must surely add credence to them.

The judge added: “A statement that the claims are untrue would at least cast doubt on their accuracy.”