A long-awaited report into the activities of Stakeknife – the British Army’s top agent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles – will be published on March 8, the PSNI has confirmed.
Temporary deputy chief constable Chris Todd said police and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) have had to satisfy themselves that the report will not prejudice any ongoing investigations ahead of publication.
Stakeknife worked within the IRA’s notorious “nutting squad”, interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles.
His alleged activities were investigated as part of Kenova, which examined crimes such as murder and torture and the role played by the security services, including MI5.
Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was in his 70s when he died last year.
The report was handed over to the PSNI last year.
However the brother of a man killed by the IRA as an alleged informer has voiced doubts over whether a long-awaited report will be published next month.
Some relatives of some of those killed have voiced frustration at the ongoing delays in making the report public, including Belfast man Frank Mulhern.
His brother Joseph was abducted and killed by the IRA in 1993 and it was claimed that he was an informer.
His father Frank later said he was given an account of his son’s death by Scappaticci.
Mr Mulhern said he remains sceptical that the report will be published.
“Yet another delay,” he said.
“Why do they need five weeks when they have had it in its current state for several months.
“We will watch this space, but I won’t be surprised if something ‘unexpected’ pops up, which leads to another delay.
“It’s a case of I will believe it when I see it.”
The report was authored by Jon Boutcher but he has since taken up position as PSNI chief constable and has recused himself from involvement in its publication.
Former chief constable of Police Scotland Sir Iain Livingstone replaced Mr Boutcher as head of Operation Kenova.
Answering a question at a public meeting of the PSNI Policing Board on Thursday, temporary DCC Todd said: “You will be aware that the report has been written, it sits with us, we’ve confirmed before there’s no changes or redactions to that report.
“It is as authored as an independent report.”
The senior officer, confirming the March publication date, said responsibility sat with himself to decide when it would be published.
“We’re very mindful that there was a protocol that’s been written by the operation Kenova team itself, which stipulates the conditions that need to be met before publication and we’re working through that very carefully,” he said.
“Without going into the detail, one of the primary considerations there is we need to satisfy ourselves that there’s no prejudice to any ongoing investigations with the PPS.”
“We also understand that the best thing for justice and for the families is to understand what those decisions are, first and foremost, followed by the publication of the report, but balancing that with the unsettling nature of the uncertainty around the publication that that will undoubtedly have on those families and victims and the need to provide transparency and be clear and give some reassurance around the publication.
SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan said: “I welcome the confirmation that it is now intended to publish the Kenova Report on March 8.
“There was a need for certainty on publication for victims and survivors. It is welcome that they have ended the uncertainty around publication.
“Operation Kenova is a vital element in addressing the legacy of our past.”
Solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said: “Today’s news is timely given increasing agitation and anxieties over delays in publication.
“After months of speculation and false dawns we at last have a date set in stone.
“That’ll come as a relief for many people who’ve invested time and different levels of trust in the outworkings of this very important report.”