Northern Ireland

Police have ‘legal duty' to include Caroline Moreland inquiry in Stakeknife probe

Caroline Moreland was shot dead by the IRA after allegations she was an informer
Caroline Moreland was shot dead by the IRA after allegations she was an informer Caroline Moreland was shot dead by the IRA after allegations she was an informer

POLICE are under a legal duty to include the murder of a Belfast mother-of-three in a major investigation into a top British spy in the IRA linked to 50 killings, the High Court has heard.

Lawyers for the family of Caroline Moreland claimed on Thursday it would be unlawful to keep her death out of the probe into activities of agent Stakeknife, named widely as Freddie Scappaticci.

They are seeking to judicially review the Chief Constable, claiming a failure to comply with human rights obligations to examine her murder in the wide-ranging inquiry.

Council for the PSNI insisted there is no current information to link Ms Moreland's killing to Stakeknife, but denied any decision has been taken to exclude the case.

Judgment was reserved in the application for leave to seek a judicial review of the police position.

In October last year Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC called for police to examine Stakeknife's activities, along with what was known by RUC Special Branch and MI5.

Relatives of those allegedly killed by the IRA's internal security team, the so-called 'Nutting Squad', have backed that move. But they are opposed to the PSNI taking charge amid suspicions of security force collusion.

Chief Constable George Hamilton has decided detectives from an external force should handle the inquiry, with confirmation of who will take charge expected next month.

Any investigation into Stakeknife could last five years and cost up to £35 million.

Ms Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic, was abducted and killed by the IRA in July 1994 for being an alleged British informer.

Her children have issued proceedings in a bid to secure a fully independent probe.

At an earlier hearing it was claimed that west Belfast man Scappaticci was permitted to engage in a murder campaign in order to strengthen his position as a British spy.

It was claimed the relatives of up to 50 victims are waiting for answers.

Scappaticci left Northern Ireland in 2003 when he was identified by the media as Stakeknife.

Before quitting his home he vehemently denied being the agent.