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Did the UK state collude with NI paramilitary killers? Did the UK state collude with NI paramilitary killers?
(35 minutes later)
British security forces had thousands of agents and informants working inside paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, a BBC Panorama investigation has discovered.British security forces had thousands of agents and informants working inside paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, a BBC Panorama investigation has discovered.
The undercover operatives were recruited by the Army, MI5 and Special Branch and many were involved in criminality and murder.The undercover operatives were recruited by the Army, MI5 and Special Branch and many were involved in criminality and murder.
Lord Stevens, who led three government investigations into the security forces in Northern Ireland, has revealed the scale of the counter-intelligence operation for the first time.Lord Stevens, who led three government investigations into the security forces in Northern Ireland, has revealed the scale of the counter-intelligence operation for the first time.
The government says collusion with paramilitaries should never happen and the government has apologised where it did.The government says collusion with paramilitaries should never happen and the government has apologised where it did.
Lord Stevens, a former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, told BBC Panorama that thousands of agents and informants were recruited during the Troubles.Lord Stevens, a former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, told BBC Panorama that thousands of agents and informants were recruited during the Troubles.
He says they created mayhem in Northern Ireland and that just one of the agents - Brian Nelson - may be linked to "dozens and dozens" of murders.He says they created mayhem in Northern Ireland and that just one of the agents - Brian Nelson - may be linked to "dozens and dozens" of murders.
Nelson, who was a paid army agent, provided assassination targets for the three main Loyalist paramilitary groups - the Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando.Nelson, who was a paid army agent, provided assassination targets for the three main Loyalist paramilitary groups - the Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando.
During his investigations in Northern Ireland, Lord Stevens and his team arrested 210 paramilitary suspects. He says that 207 of them were agents or informants for the state.During his investigations in Northern Ireland, Lord Stevens and his team arrested 210 paramilitary suspects. He says that 207 of them were agents or informants for the state.
Baroness Nuala O'Loan, who was Northern Ireland's first police ombudsman, also found evidence that state agents were involved in murder.Baroness Nuala O'Loan, who was Northern Ireland's first police ombudsman, also found evidence that state agents were involved in murder.
'Sensitive material''Sensitive material'
She tells Panorama that the security forces failed to control their undercover operatives: "They were running informants and their argument was that they were saving lives, but hundreds and hundreds of people died because these people were not brought to justice.She tells Panorama that the security forces failed to control their undercover operatives: "They were running informants and their argument was that they were saving lives, but hundreds and hundreds of people died because these people were not brought to justice.
"There was impunity really for these people to go on committing their crimes. Many of them were killers, some were serial killers.""There was impunity really for these people to go on committing their crimes. Many of them were killers, some were serial killers."
One Special Branch agent in North Belfast has been linked to 20 murders. Mark Haddock, who ran one of the Ulster Volunteer Force's most notorious terror gangs, was paid at least £79,000 for his work as a police agent. One Special Branch agent in north Belfast has been linked to 20 murders. Mark Haddock, who ran one of the Ulster Volunteer Force's most notorious terror gangs, was paid at least £79,000 for his work as a police agent.
The police ombudsman of Northern Ireland is currently investigating 60 murder cases where the state has been accused of involvement.The police ombudsman of Northern Ireland is currently investigating 60 murder cases where the state has been accused of involvement.
These investigations were delayed because the police refused to hand over crucial evidence to the ombudsman.These investigations were delayed because the police refused to hand over crucial evidence to the ombudsman.
But following a court challenge last year, the new Chief Constable George Hamilton agreed to hand over the intelligence files.But following a court challenge last year, the new Chief Constable George Hamilton agreed to hand over the intelligence files.
He told the programme that he's willing to work with the ombudsman, but the information needs to be handled carefully.He told the programme that he's willing to work with the ombudsman, but the information needs to be handled carefully.
"There is a need to understand the sheer magnitude of what we are dealing with. We are talking about rooms full of material."There is a need to understand the sheer magnitude of what we are dealing with. We are talking about rooms full of material.
"Some of it is very sensitive, some of which if it is released in the wrong circumstances would be outside of legislation, some of it if released in the wrong circumstances could put lives at risk.""Some of it is very sensitive, some of which if it is released in the wrong circumstances would be outside of legislation, some of it if released in the wrong circumstances could put lives at risk."
The government says that the vast majority of those who served in the security forces did so with distinction. It says collusion with paramilitaries should never happen and the government has apologised where it did.The government says that the vast majority of those who served in the security forces did so with distinction. It says collusion with paramilitaries should never happen and the government has apologised where it did.
Panorama: Britain's Secret Terror Deals is on BBC One at 2100 BST on Thursday 28 May 2015 and available later via BBC iPlayer. Panorama: Britain's Secret Terror Deals is on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Thursday 28 May 2015 and available later via BBC iPlayer.