In a shocking revelation, a seven-year investigation known as Operation Kenova has concluded that a former Irish Republican Army (IRA) double agent, codenamed "Stakeknife," was likely responsible for more deaths than lives saved during Northern Ireland's three-decade conflict. Led by Jon Boutcher, the investigation delved into the actions of Stakeknife, who operated as a senior member of the IRA while passing information to British intelligence.

Stakeknife, described as Britain's most centrally placed mole within the IRA, was reportedly allowed by British Army intelligence officers to carry out interrogations, torture, and even killings of his own IRA colleagues to maintain his cover as the group's internal security chief. While it had been previously claimed that Stakeknife's actions saved numerous lives, Boutcher stated that such assertions were "implausible."

"I think it probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved," commented Boutcher, who authored the interim report. The investigation, which cost approximately £40 million ($52 million), examined numerous killings and abductions associated with the IRA's notorious "nutting squad" responsible for targeting individuals suspected of collaborating with British security forces.

The report highlighted that the number of lives Stakeknife saved was far less than previously believed, with estimates ranging from "high single figures" to "low double figures." Claims of his intelligence operations saving "countless" or "hundreds" of lives were deemed exaggerated. The report also revealed that there were instances when preventable crimes, including murder, were allowed to take place, as efforts were prioritized to protect agents.

Moreover, the report dismissed claims that Stakeknife had met with then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and other Cabinet ministers during the height of the Troubles in the 1980s as "wild nonsense." It further called on both the United Kingdom and the IRA to apologize to the bereaved families affected by the conflict.

Although the report did not definitively identify Stakeknife as Belfast IRA veteran Freddie Scappaticci, who passed away last year, the "Neither Confirm Nor Deny" policy prevented the official confirmation of agents' identities. However, Boutcher argued that this policy is "no longer tenable" and expected the government to authorize the identification of Stakeknife in the final report.

As the 26th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, which marked a significant turning point in the conflict, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris stated that the British government could not comment on the details of the report until the final version is published. He noted that Operation Kenova had gained the trust of families seeking answers.

In response, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, also the vice president of Sinn Fein, the IRA's former ally, expressed her apologies to the victims' families, emphasizing that she is sorry for every single loss of life. She acknowledged the importance of acknowledging the impact on families affected by the conflict.

A lawyer representing families directly impacted by the report called for a public inquiry into the state's infiltration of the IRA, stating that the British state and the IRA were "co-conspirators" in the killings of citizens. It was highlighted that many of the cases investigated by Kenova did not involve Scappaticci and emphasized that he was not the only individual acting as Stakeknife.