Jon Boutcher urges ‘extreme caution’ over closing down Troubles investigations

Jon Boutcher has urged extreme caution over closing down investigations into unsolved murders in Northern Ireland (Bedfordshire Police/PA)

A senior officer who investigated the Army’s top agent within the IRA has urged extreme caution over closing down inquiries into unsolved murders in Northern Ireland.

Jon Boutcher led Operation Kenova, probing the activities of the mole codenamed Stakeknife, and said it showed that opportunities for prosecution could be identified.