A west Belfast man believed to have been the British Army’s top mole in the Provisional IRA has died.
Freddie Scappaticci, who was aged in his 70s, has denied that he was the agent Stakeknife.
He died several days ago and was buried last week.
Stakeknife led the IRA’s notorious ‘nutting squad’ interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles and is believed to be responsible for dozens of deaths.
He was unmasked in 2003 following media reporting.
The activities of Stakeknife are under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher.
The probe is examining crimes such as murder and torture linked to Stakeknife, and the role played by the security services, including MI5.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Mr Scappaticci.
He said his team are working through the implications of the death of Mr Scappaticci in terms of the investigation, and said they will publish an interim report on findings this year,
“We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals,” he said.
“We will publish an interim report on Kenova’s findings this year.
“We also recognise that people may now feel more able to talk to the Kenova team following the death of Mr Scappaticci, who had been long accused by many of being involved in the kidnap, murder and torture of potential PIRA informants during The Troubles.
“I appeal to anyone with information that might help those impacted by the events we are investigating to contact us in confidence to help families understand what happened during these difficult times.”
Kevin Winters, a lawyer representing relatives of people killed by the Provisional IRA during the Troubles, said the news “will frustrate many families” who have been waiting for more than six years on the imminent publication of Mr Boutcher’s independent report.
He said: “Clearly the death will have an impact on both the content of the report and whether or not criminal prosecutions go ahead.
“Families of victims will rightly ask questions. Their cynicism is heightened upon learning that news of Scappaticci’s burial seems to have been kept quiet by the authorities over the Easter weekend.
Victims campaigner, Kenny Donaldson said his thoughts were with the victims of the IRA’s ‘nutting squad.’
"The name Freddie Scappaticci for those who weren't impacted by his actions is a name which denotes mystique and almost sick intrigue. However, for those whose families were murdered as a consequence of his alleged involvement as kingpin of The Provisional IRA's nutting squad, the name means something very different".
He added that senior members of the republican movement will not be saddened at the death.
“It has been said by many well-placed sources that the Provisional Republican Movement was infiltrated to its highest level with well-placed informants and it is understood that a considerable number of the files before the PPS contain allegations of serious criminal-based activity by Provisional IRA terrorists,” Mr Donaldson said.
