Scappaticci in libel action

Freddie Scappaticci, the man who denies media reports that he is the British Army spy `Stakeknife', who is said to have infiltrated the IRA, has launched a libel action against the Sunday People newspaper.

The West Belfast man has accused the paper of putting his life in danger with their stories. He has also lodged a complaint with the PSNI,

Solicitor Michael Flanigan, acting for Scappaticci, has written to the newspaper calling on it to retract the allegations that Scappaticci was an informer who ordered the deaths of 40 people.

He called for a Hutton-style public inquiry into the case. ``The issues looked at by the Hutton Inquiry are almost identical to those that have arisen in the Scappaticci case,'' he said.

London police chief John Stevens said he would be extending his probe into collusion between British forces in Ireland and unionist paramilitaries to investigate the existence of a `Stakeknife' informer.

Scappaticci's lawyer said that an inquiry should be established to investigate the source of the initial information about Scappaticci.

Flanigan said: ``It may be argued that the Stevens inquiry is already investigating Stakeknife but the reality is that they have no interest in Scappaticci.''

Scappaticci wants the British Government to confirm or deny that he is `Stakeknife' and is appealing a court ruling denying as request that the British Government state publicly whether or not the allegations were true or false.

Urgent Appeal