The man alleged to be the army spy known as "Stakeknife" will have to wait a few more days to find out if the British government is to be forced to say whether he is one of their agents.
Mr Freddie Scappaticci (59), from west Belfast, had applied to the High Court for a judicial review of Security Minister Jane Kennedy's refusal to confirm that he was not a British agent. He was granted leave for the review, which was heard in Belfast this week.
Mr Scappaticci was named by the media as a top-ranking military spy in May of this year, a claim he has consistently denied. His lawyers claim his life is being put under threat by the Security Minister's refusal to confirm that he is telling the truth.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, for Mr Scappaticci, today described as "quite extraordinary" the government's contention that the threat to Mr Scappaticci's life would not be reduced even if they did say he was not one of their agents.
"What harm would it do to say he is not an agent?" he asked. "Making a statement in this particular case would have no particular impact on other cases.
"The denial of the Minister is bound to carry some weight and would be a not insignificant element in reducing the threat to this man's life."
But Mr Declan Morgan QC, for the government, argued that there would be "a limited benefit from the step it is being asked to take".