A cross-party committee of MPs has called on the UK Government to formally identify the British Army agent codenamed 'Stakeknife'. The individual, who worked deep within the Provisional IRA during the 1980s, is suspected of direct involvement in numerous abductions, tortures, and murders while serving as a high-level intelligence asset.

In a landmark report released today, Monday 9 February 2026, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee concluded that revealing Stakeknife's identity—long believed to be the late Freddie Scappaticci—is essential for public interest. The MPs argued that formal confirmation would foster trust in state agencies and provide much-needed closure for victims' families.

The recommendation follows a significant evidence session last month for Operation Kenova, the decade-long investigation into the agent's activities. While the Operation Kenova final report published in December 2025 described the agent's conduct as involving "the worst possible crimes," it stopped short of naming him. This was due to the Government's continued adherence to the "Neither Confirm Nor Deny" (NCND) policy, a long-standing protocol intended to protect national security and agent safety. However, the Committee's report today contends that identifying Stakeknife in this specific instance would not endanger current operatives or hamper future recruitment. Instead, it suggests that naming the agent would send a clear message that state protection will not extend to those whose conduct exceeds acceptable limits.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said: "As Operation Kenova's final report makes clear, the ongoing refusal to confirm or deny Stakeknife's identity is having a profound and lasting effect on victims and their families who have already been through so much.

"Given the reassurances we've heard that active agents won't be put in harm's way and future recruitment won't be compromised, formal identification in this specific instance is appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest. By naming Stakeknife, the Government can send a strong signal that agents who cross a line will not receive the protection of anonymity and help to build trust and confidence across all communities in Northern Ireland."

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn previously stated in December that the Government was reviewing its position on the matter following a Supreme Court judgment regarding intelligence disclosure. In response to today's report, a Government spokesperson noted that while the behaviour detailed in Operation Kenova was "deeply disturbing," the Government is not yet in a position to respond formally due to ongoing litigation.

The Committee has also recommended that the Government consult with MI5 and the PSNI to review how the NCND policy is applied to all legacy cases from the Troubles.