Did the British Army cover up murders during the Northern Ireland Civil War to protect one of its double agents? This is the question posed to Operation Kenova, 25 years after the signing of the peace agreement. The interim report published this Friday March 8 denounces the culture of secrecy of the British services.
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With our correspondent in London, Émeline Vin
At United Kingdom, investigators focused on this British spy nicknamed Stakeknife. Murders could and should have been prevented by North Ireland during the civil war, this is the verdict of the interim report of the Kenova operationwhich reveals assassinations, but also kidnappings and acts of torture, perpetrated by republican paramilitaries on people suspected of double dealing for the benefit of the British army.
Until now, the British services admitted to having “ sacrificed » certain agents, to protect one of their spies, Stakeknife, described as the goose that lays golden eggs. The latter was a high infiltrator in the hierarchy of the Irish Republican Army. But according to the Kenova report, Stakeknife participated in at least 18 murders and probably cost more lives than he saved.
Ten recommendations before the publication of the final report
The author of the report is now demanding to be able to publicly name Stakeknife – the man identified by the press twenty years ago died last year without being prosecuted.
Kenova issues ten recommendations, before the publication of its final report, including the presentation of apologies by the IRA, sponsor of the assassinations mentioned here, and by the British government, for not having allowed the families of victims to obtain answers and justice.