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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Smithwick: Alleged republican agent Freddie Scappaticci could testify | Smithwick: Alleged republican agent Freddie Scappaticci could testify |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Belfast republican Freddie Scappaticci may give evidence to the Dublin-based Smithwick Tribunal. | Belfast republican Freddie Scappaticci may give evidence to the Dublin-based Smithwick Tribunal. |
| It follows a third day of evidence to the tribunal from Newry man Kevin Fulton, a former British agent who infiltrated the IRA. | It follows a third day of evidence to the tribunal from Newry man Kevin Fulton, a former British agent who infiltrated the IRA. |
| He repeated claims that Mr Scappaticci was a British agent in the IRA known by the code name 'Stakeknife'. | He repeated claims that Mr Scappaticci was a British agent in the IRA known by the code name 'Stakeknife'. |
| The tribunal is investigating claims of Garda collusion in the 1989 murders of two senior RUC officers. | The tribunal is investigating claims of Garda collusion in the 1989 murders of two senior RUC officers. |
| Counsel for Mr Scappaticci, Martin O'Rourke, applied for a second counsel for his client - who has denied the allegations made against him | Counsel for Mr Scappaticci, Martin O'Rourke, applied for a second counsel for his client - who has denied the allegations made against him |
| The chairman of the tribunal, Judge Peter Smithwick, said he would consider that request if Mr Scappaticci would agree to give a statement to the tribunal and turn up to give evidence. | The chairman of the tribunal, Judge Peter Smithwick, said he would consider that request if Mr Scappaticci would agree to give a statement to the tribunal and turn up to give evidence. |
| "That is being given active consideration by my client," replied Mr O'Rourke. | "That is being given active consideration by my client," replied Mr O'Rourke. |
| The tribunal was told on Friday of an IRA death threat sent to Mr Fulton's address in Newry in February 2001. | The tribunal was told on Friday of an IRA death threat sent to Mr Fulton's address in Newry in February 2001. |
| "You have been sentenced by court martial in your absence. You are charged. General order no. 5 part 5, general order no. 11, on both charges you were found guilty. The penalty for both charges is death. Sentence to be carried out at our convenience." | "You have been sentenced by court martial in your absence. You are charged. General order no. 5 part 5, general order no. 11, on both charges you were found guilty. The penalty for both charges is death. Sentence to be carried out at our convenience." |
| The letter was signed "'P O'Neill, Oglaigh na hEireann". | The letter was signed "'P O'Neill, Oglaigh na hEireann". |
| When asked why he had travelled from the UK to give evidence to the tribunal Mr Fulton said: "I started something and I had to finish it." | When asked why he had travelled from the UK to give evidence to the tribunal Mr Fulton said: "I started something and I had to finish it." |
| When asked what would the IRA think about what he was doing in giving evidence Mr Fulton said: "It's treachery, they would kill me." | When asked what would the IRA think about what he was doing in giving evidence Mr Fulton said: "It's treachery, they would kill me." |
| He denied he was lying about the collusion allegations he made against a former Dundalk-based garda Det Sgt Owen Corrigan. Mr Corrigan denies all allegations of collusion. | He denied he was lying about the collusion allegations he made against a former Dundalk-based garda Det Sgt Owen Corrigan. Mr Corrigan denies all allegations of collusion. |
| IRA commander | IRA commander |
| Earlier on Friday, Mr Fulton claimed a former IRA bomb-maker was a secret agent or was being protected by some state agencies "north and south". | Earlier on Friday, Mr Fulton claimed a former IRA bomb-maker was a secret agent or was being protected by some state agencies "north and south". |
| The former agent spoke of how he came to the conclusion that Patrick 'Mooch' Blair was effectively another agent. | The former agent spoke of how he came to the conclusion that Patrick 'Mooch' Blair was effectively another agent. |
| "After the Omagh bomb I did target him specifically but it was all thwarted by police," he said. | "After the Omagh bomb I did target him specifically but it was all thwarted by police," he said. |
| Mr Fulton claimed he had passed on information about Blair to his handlers and what he described as "golden opportunities" to arrest him were not followed up. | Mr Fulton claimed he had passed on information about Blair to his handlers and what he described as "golden opportunities" to arrest him were not followed up. |
| "He was being protected by some state agency north and south," he said. "He walked on water, so more or less, he was an agent." | "He was being protected by some state agency north and south," he said. "He walked on water, so more or less, he was an agent." |
| Blair was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Northern Ireland in 1975 for the attempted murder of an RUC officer and possession of firearms. | Blair was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Northern Ireland in 1975 for the attempted murder of an RUC officer and possession of firearms. |
| He has previously acknowledged to the tribunal that he was active in the IRA over three decades but denied he was a commander, saying he was no more then a "volunteer". | He has previously acknowledged to the tribunal that he was active in the IRA over three decades but denied he was a commander, saying he was no more then a "volunteer". |
| The tribunal is investigating the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan. | The tribunal is investigating the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan. |
| They were shot dead in south Armagh shortly after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station. | They were shot dead in south Armagh shortly after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station. |
| Mr Fulton was also cross-examined by Martin O' Rourke, legal counsel for Mr Scappaticci. | Mr Fulton was also cross-examined by Martin O' Rourke, legal counsel for Mr Scappaticci. |
| "Do you deliberately overstate your own importance," Mr O'Rourke asked. | "Do you deliberately overstate your own importance," Mr O'Rourke asked. |
| "No, I am not as important or unimportant as anyone else" Mr Fulton replied. "Maybe your client is understating his importance." | "No, I am not as important or unimportant as anyone else" Mr Fulton replied. "Maybe your client is understating his importance." |
| During heated exchanges Mr Fulton told Mr Scappaticci's legal counsel that it was an "actual fact" that your client "is an informer and he is 'Stakeknife'". | |
| Mr Fulton also spoke of his wish to "recede into the background". | Mr Fulton also spoke of his wish to "recede into the background". |
| "I would like to disappear, I am sure there are some people who could arrange that," he said. | "I would like to disappear, I am sure there are some people who could arrange that," he said. |