Dublin – Taoiseach Micheál Martin today named Freddie Scappaticci as Stakeknife, the long-unidentified British agent operating within the Provisional IRA during the Troubles. The announcement, made during a session in the Dáil Éireann, follows the publication of the final report from Operation Kenova, an investigation into allegations of serious criminal conduct linked to the agent.
Addressing the Dáil, Martin stated that Scappaticci’s identity was “clear to everybody” in the chamber. While the British government has maintained a policy of “Neither Confirm Nor Deny” regarding its agents, the Taoiseach called for official acknowledgement from London. “It is widely known that Stakeknife was Freddie Scappaticci,” he said, adding that Scappaticci was recruited by the British army in the late 1970s and worked with them through the 1990s.
The Kenova Inquiry, despite gathering evidence linking Scappaticci to a range of severe crimes, was prevented from officially naming him due to the British government’s longstanding policy. Martin highlighted the extent of Scappaticci’s role as a “prized informant,” noting that the British army established a dedicated 24-hour phoneline for communication with him.
The report details Scappaticci’s alleged involvement in “grotesque and serious crimes” committed in conjunction with the Provisional IRA, including 14 murders and 15 abductions. Scappaticci, originally from west Belfast, died in 2023.
The publication of the Kenova Report in December has prompted a renewed focus on the legacy of the Troubles and the role of British intelligence operations. The report concluded that Stakeknife’s activities likely cost more lives than they saved, a finding that has fueled calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Martin emphasized the importance of confronting the past, stating that “the past must not be hidden.” He welcomed the debate in the Dáil as an opportunity to give the Kenova Report “the attention it deserves.” However, he also strongly criticized elements of the republican movement, including Sinn Féin, accusing them of revisionism regarding the actions of the Provisional IRA.
“Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in the past three decades in getting certain elements and organisations to be open and honest about the behaviour of their members and supporters,” Martin told the Dáil. He described the Provisional IRA as “a scourge on all communities” and accused them of attempting to “intimidate and subjugate the nationalist and republican communities across the North.” He further asserted that Sinn Féin’s endorsement of the IRA could not be erased by “aggressive revisionist history.”
The Taoiseach’s remarks drew a response from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who expressed sorrow for all lives lost during the conflict, “without exception.” McDonald acknowledged the “stark and deeply disturbing” findings of the Kenova Report, stating that it confirmed “collusion was not an aberration but a defining feature of British state policy during the conflict.” She characterized this as a deliberate political choice that resulted in loss of life.
Other political leaders also weighed in on the report’s findings. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik highlighted the importance of testimony and accountability demonstrated by the Kenova investigation, warning that a failure to implement its recommendations would further erode trust in institutions. Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney condemned the British government’s failure to name Stakeknife and emphasized the need for greater clarity regarding the events of the Troubles.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan detailed what he described as “shocking” findings within the Kenova Report, reiterating that investigations remain open into unresolved Troubles-related cases, including the 1975 Dublin Airport bombing that claimed the life of John Hayes. O’Callaghan criticized both the British government for allowing Scappaticci’s activities and the Provisional IRA for colluding in the murders he allegedly perpetrated.
The naming of Scappaticci comes after a recent call from a cross-party group of MPs for the British government to officially identify him, arguing that doing so would be “appropriate, proportionate and strongly in the public interest.” However, the British government has indicated that it is currently unable to respond to the request due to ongoing litigation and consideration of a recent Supreme Court judgment – the Thompson case – which restricts the disclosure of intelligence information.
A spokesperson for the British government stated that Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn would update Parliament “as soon as he is able to.” The spokesperson also acknowledged the disturbing nature of the behavior described in the Kenova Report and highlighted reforms made to agent handling practices in recent decades, including the implementation of stricter regulations overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
, RTÉ News reported on the publication of the Operation Kenova report, detailing Scappaticci’s recruitment by the Army in the late 1970s and his operation as an agent until the 1990s. The report revealed that Scappaticci operated within the IRA’s internal security unit, responsible for identifying and punishing suspected informers.
