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| Stakeknife: PSNI gives details of police investigation | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland has begun giving details of the police investigation into the alleged activities of the Army's most high-ranking agent in the IRA. | |
| The agent, codenamed Stakeknife, has been linked to more than 50 murders. | The agent, codenamed Stakeknife, has been linked to more than 50 murders. |
| Police confirmed the investigation would also examine possible crimes by IRA members, agent, army and police handlers. | |
| It is estimated the investigation will take at least five years. | |
| The cost has been estimated at more than £30m. | |
| A briefing had been due on Thursday but was deferred because of fears it could overshadow the Police Ombudsman's findings on Loughinisland. | A briefing had been due on Thursday but was deferred because of fears it could overshadow the Police Ombudsman's findings on Loughinisland. |
| Who is Stakeknife? | Who is Stakeknife? |
| Freddie Scappaticci is alleged to have been the most high ranking British agent within the Provisional IRA who was given the codename 'Stakeknife'. | Freddie Scappaticci is alleged to have been the most high ranking British agent within the Provisional IRA who was given the codename 'Stakeknife'. |
| He was the grandson of an Italian immigrant who came to Northern Ireland in search of work. | He was the grandson of an Italian immigrant who came to Northern Ireland in search of work. |
| He has admitted, in the past, to being a republican but denies claims that he was an IRA informer. | He has admitted, in the past, to being a republican but denies claims that he was an IRA informer. |
| He is believed to have led the IRA's internal security unit, known as 'the nutting squad,' which was responsible for identifying and interrogating suspected informers. | He is believed to have led the IRA's internal security unit, known as 'the nutting squad,' which was responsible for identifying and interrogating suspected informers. |
| Mr Scappaticci left Northern Ireland when identified by the media as Stakeknife, in 2003. | Mr Scappaticci left Northern Ireland when identified by the media as Stakeknife, in 2003. |
| The agent known as Stakeknife has been named in the media as Freddie Scappaticci, originally from west Belfast. Mr Scappaticci has denied the allegations. | |
| In October 2015, the director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland, Barra McGrory QC, announced that he had asked the police to investigate allegations that Stakeknife was involved in 24 murders. | In October 2015, the director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland, Barra McGrory QC, announced that he had asked the police to investigate allegations that Stakeknife was involved in 24 murders. |
| The IRA's internal security unit is believed to have killed at least 53 people it claimed were informers between 1978 and 1995. | The IRA's internal security unit is believed to have killed at least 53 people it claimed were informers between 1978 and 1995. |
| It is unlikely that Stakeknife had a role in of all of those killings, but they will all have to be re-investigated in an attempt to establish precisely the extent of his involvement. | It is unlikely that Stakeknife had a role in of all of those killings, but they will all have to be re-investigated in an attempt to establish precisely the extent of his involvement. |