The life and death of an IRA double agent

Freddie Scappaticci, the former double agent, code-named Stakeknife, died in April this year.

For many years during the Troubles he was a senior member of the IRA, heading up an internal unit tasked with finding and rooting out informers.

Informally known as the “nutting squad” – because suspected touts were often executed by a shot to the head – Scappaticci is alleged to have been directly involved in the murder of 20 fellow IRA members; all the while he himself was in the pay of British intelligence.

A British spy killing other British spies.

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Did his MI5 paymasters know of the murders, effectively sacrificing the lives of others to protect the identity of Stakeknife, their prized asset deep undercover in the IRA?

Gerry Moriarty, who covered the North for The Irish Times during some of the years Scappaticci was active describes the feared barbarity of the man known as Stakeknife; while human rights lawyer Kevin Winters, who represents some the families of the double agent’s victims, explains what they hope Operation Kenova might reveal now that the main target of its investigation is dead.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. This episode was originally published in April 2023.