An investigation into a British spy inside the IRA could lead to more than 30 people facing criminal proceedings in connection with at least 10 murders, the High Court in Belfast has heard. The 73-year-old west Belfast man is facing a total of 32 separate lawsuits over his alleged activities while in charge of the IRA’s internal security team, the so-called ‘Nutting Squad’. But Jon Boutcher, the former Bedfordshire Chief Constable in charge of the PSNI’s Operation Kenova inquiry, wants those actions put on hold until his criminal investigation is completed. Mr Scappaticci left Northern Ireland for a secret location in 2003 after he was widely named as being Stakeknife. Mrs Keeley was released without charge, but claims she was then taken to a flat in the New Lodge area of the city and questioned by an IRA team.

Source: The Irish Times January 31, 2020 15:52 UTC