MI5 Protected IRA Agent Involved in Murders, Report Says

British security services allowed a top spy in the IRA to continue committing serious crimes, police report finds.

The UK’s MI5 protected IRA double agent “Stakeknife,” who committed murders during the Troubles while providing intelligence to British authorities, according to the Operation Kenova investigation. The report highlights MI5’s “perverse sense of loyalty,” enabling Stakeknife to evade prosecution despite being wanted for conspiracy to murder. Stakeknife, believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, is linked to 14 murders and 15 abductions, with MI5 criticized for delaying essential documents. The investigation urges the UK government to apologize to victims’ families and publicly name Stakeknife, emphasizing that lives could have been saved with appropriate actions.