Scappaticci denied legal request

Freddie Scappaticci the man who denies he was the British army agent known as ‘Stakeknife’ within the Provisional IRA has been refused additional representation at the Smithwick Tribunal.

Mr Scappaticci had already been granted limited legal representation every time he is to be mentioned at the tribunal, which is inquiring into claims members of An Garda Síochána colluded with the IRA in the killing of two senior RUC officers, in March 1989.

In July this year Mr Scappaticci was granted additional representation to take place each time “Stakeknife” is mentioned.

This morning, Judge Peter Smithwick said an application had been received from Mr Scappaticci to the effect that he be granted legal representation each time the alleged British army agents known as Peter Keeley alias Kevin Fulton, and Martin Ingram alias Ian Hurst, were to be mentioned. However the judge said he would not grant the application.

Chief Supt Harry Breen and supt Bob Buchanan were killed minutes after they left a meeting with senior garda in Dundalk garda station on March 20th, 1989.

The tribunal is also hearing evidence from former members of the RUC in relation to their knowledge of increased IRA radio communications activity in the South Armagh area from about lunchtime on the day the RUC men were murdered.

However a former senior RUC officer, giving evidence to the tribunal from behind a screen, said he had no knowledge of the “traffic of signals” which counsel for the tribunal Justin Dillon SC said had been described by another witness.