A MAN alleged to have been the British Army’s most high-ranking IRA informant has pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images.
Freddie Scappaticci, 72, has always strongly denied he was the double agent known as Stakeknife.
Mr Scappaticci, from West Belfast, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to the charges relating to at least 329 images.
Some of the images contained pictures of animals, however they were mostly of women and none were of children.
The first charge was that he was in possession of 329 extreme pornographic images on January 9, 2018.
The second charge stated that he was in possession of extreme pornography between October 6, 2015 and January 31, 2018.
Mr Scappaticci was sentenced to three months in custody, suspended for 12 months.
Operation Kenova
Stakeknife was the codename of a high-ranking British Army mole within the IRA who reputedly led the organisation’s Internal Security Unit – ironically tasked with investigating suspected informers.
Mr Scappaticci was arrested in January of this year as part of Operation Kenova, which is investigation Stakeknife’s involvement in the kidnap, torture and murder of individuals by the IRA during The Troubles.
“Today’s conviction came about as a result of material recovered during a search conducted by the Kenova team,” said Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police who is leading the investigation.
“This result is an indication that wherever criminal behaviour is identified during my investigation, evidence will be presented for the purposes of prosecution.
“Operation Kenova continues to recover evidence in relation to our core terms of reference and as and when it is appropriate to speak further, I will do so.
“I would encourage anyone who might be able to assist with this important inquiry to please contact my team via the details on the Kenova website, or by calling Crimestoppers.”
