UK Committee Urges Naming of Stakeknife

The United Kingdom===Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee has urged the United Kingdom government to formally name 'Stakeknife', a former British Army agent widely believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, who operated within the Provisional Irish Republican Army during the Troubles. United Kingdom===Operation Kenova, the probe into Stakeknife's activities, concluded that more lives were likely lost than saved through his operation, but the United Kingdom government refused authorization to confirm his identity, citing the 'Neither Confirm Nor Deny' (NCND) policy. The committee, along with Jon Boutcher and Sir Iain Livingstone, argues that naming Stakeknife is in the public interest, would build trust in state agencies, and would signal that agents guilty of misconduct will not be protected. The United Kingdom government has stated it is considering its position due to ongoing litigation and a recent Supreme Court judgment.