Man suspected of being Stakeknife, Britain’s top spy in IRA, dies

Death of Freddie Scappaticci, who always denied he was mole, puts question mark over inquiry into his alleged crimes

The man said to be the British army's most important agent inside the Provisional IRA has died, putting a question mark over the inquiry into his alleged crimes and the role played by security forces.

Freddie Scappaticci, a west Belfast former bricklayer who was alleged to have been a top mole known as Stakeknife, died and was buried last week, it emerged on Tuesday. He was in his 70s.