A brother of a west Belfast man thought to have been shot dead by British agent Stakeknife has raised concerns over delays in publishing a report into his activities.
Joseph Mulhern’s brother Fran spoke out as frustration continues to grow over delays in publishing the long-awaited Operation Kenova report.
Mr Mulhern was abducted and killed by the IRA in 1993 and it was later claimed that he was an informer.
His campaigning father Frank later said he was given an account of his son’s death by the British agent.
In 2003 west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci was named as Stakeknife but insisted the allegation was untrue.
He was a former commander of the IRA’s Internal Security Unit (ISU), which was responsible for hunting down suspected informers and agents.
It was reported that he died last year.
Publication of the Operation Kenova report was expected last year.
The report, which has been completed, is now in the hands of the PSNI.
Former Operation Kenova boss Jon Boutcher resigned from the investigation team last year to take on the role of PSNI chief constable.
Before Christmas the Public Prosecution (PPS) confirmed that no action will be taken against 15 people after five files were considered.
The PPS had earlier written to relatives of the dead to tell them of a “formal no decision outcome” in relation to a suspect who had died.
Although not named, the suspect is believed to be Scappaticci.
Mr Mulhern’s brother voiced his annoyance at the delays.
“The first date I heard for it being published was actually well over a year ago and then it just keeps getting delayed and delayed,” he said.
“When I last spoke to Jon Boutcher just before he became chief constable, he said it was in the hands of the PSNI but that it had completed all of the steps that were needed, so there was nothing to do other than to publish it - and that was back in the middle of October.
“It just seems to be delay after delay after delay.”
Mr Mulhern said the ongoing delays have generated doubt about the report.
“It’s got to the point now where I am beyond caring in the sense of, I am not sure I am not going to believe what it says any more just because it’s taken so long….at every single opportunity there has been a delay to publish it,” he said.
Mr Mulhern confirmed his family was contacted by the PPS before Christmas and the correspondence confirmed there would be no prosecution.
“It said something about, basically, there were a number of members of the security services who had been questioned as part of it,” he said.
“What it effectively said was every single one of them stonewalled the investigation and because of that there is nothing they can do about prosecuting them.
“It almost feels like it’s just saying something for the sake of saying something.
“At the end of the day if it takes 30 years to get an apology, 31 years this year, what’s the point of it?
Mr Mulhern confirmed that before his father’s death last year Jon Boutcher visited him in hospital.
The family’s solicitor, Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said: “Families and others expectations have been raised about the outcome of Kenova.
“The recent predicted disappointment on decisions not to prosecute anyone only serves to increase pressure on Kenova delivering for families of victims.
“Both the public report and the individual bespoke family reports need released urgently.”
A spokesman for Operation Kenova said: “A spokesman said Kenova was committed to publishing the report and was awaiting final agreement from the PSNI before confirming the date of publication which is expected to be announced imminently.”
