Freddie Scappaticci aka “Stakeknife” arrested in England.

In the news is that one Freddie Scappaticci also know as “Stakeknife” has been arrested by British Police at a undisclosed location. The past activities of the man are also under investigation by Chief constable Jon Boutcher and his squad. “Stakeknife” is believed to be involved in up to fifty killings with some at the behest of his handlers in British intelligence and others just to cover up for himself. He is believed to be a high level (but not the highest) informer in the I.R.A for the British army. He was “outed” as a tout by “Martin Ingram” and Greg Harkin in their book “Stakeknife” and quickly fled Belfast despite initial denials. It would seem that the Brits have given him up but its unlikely that they will allow the goings of British intelligence to be aired. Despite this it will be interesting to watch.

Image result for stakeknife book

Stakeknife

Here is a name we heard of before Freddie Scappaticci aka Stakeknife. (though he denies it), if you haven’t you sure to hear of it due to a new investigation being underway headed by English police Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher.

A international team has been drawn up to investigate the up to fifty killings performed by stakeknife. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have seemingly passed the matter on. Scappaticci is alleged to have been a  “walk in ”  he volunteered to work for the British’s army intelligence section -Force Research unit/ FRU-in the late seventies and received payments of up to £80,000 st/year. He was regarded as quite a catch for British intelligence as he headed up the IRA’s internal security unit or “nutting squad” consequently the IRA had no internal security and the material he passed to his handlers was of high grade.

The book “stakeknife” makes for grisly reading as it details the “running” of agents their recruitment (recruitment rate usually one in twenty approaches was rated as a success , normally recruited for small sums of money i.e £200/month ) the decision to kill people being made by  intelligence handlers, people who had been set up, petty touts being killed to protect bigger touts or sacrificed in a matter of fact . The book details very high levels of infiltration of PIRA and that of loyalist paras but the FRU/ british army wholly campaigns against the IRA with little or no smokescreen present with loyalist paramilitary. The idea was to place the “security forces ” as a honest broker or disinterested third party despite the level of penetration estimated to be at over 70% of its (IRA) operations.

The exact toll of “stakeknife” were logged with the PSNI and the stevens inquiry and the british police are the ones providing stakeknife with refuge. It will be interesting to see if the legality of FRU’s operations stand up or will they get a murder rap for them most unlikely to happen. Only time will tell if another cover up happens.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/stakeknife-investigator-uncovers-significant-new-evidence-1.2829929

 

Back Blogging again

Decided to give this blogging lark another go, hopefully will get good results this time.