Mick Clifford: New British law designed to cover up  Troubles' murders

In light of what is emerging about the level of depravity deployed by the British forces, it is entirely proper that the Irish Government tries to halt the amnesty legislation

Leading IRA figure Alfredo ‘Freddie’ Scappaticci, a British agent using the codename ‘Stakeknife’, is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of at least 33 people. Picture: Alan Lewis/Photopress Belfast

Every year as the turkey turns cold, the State papers are released to cast an eye on the past. So it was this year, and from the various files fell a few nuggets that told lots, not just about the past, but the present.

Publication of the State papers came in the week after the Irish Government announced it was going to the European Court of Human Rights to prevent the UK from enacting its Troubles-related amnesty legislation.