The son of a man shot dead by an IRA unit led by Freddie Scappaticci has questioned why victims’ relatives were not told the notorious double agent had changed his name before his death.
Paul Wilson spoke out after it emerged that Scappaticci changed his name to Frank Cowley by deed poll in January 2020.
Earlier this week Mr Wilson called for a public inquiry into the murder of his father, Thomas Emmanuel Wilson (37), known as Manuel, in June 1987.
His family has recently been passed a private report by Operation Kenova, which was established in 2016 to investigate the activities of Stakeknife.
In the days after Mr Wilson’s death a “sensitive RUC source” provided police with information about the role of a man identified as Suspect I - believed to be Scappaticci.
A former commander of the IRA’s Internal Security Unit (ISU), Scappaticci was identified as Stakeknife in 2003.
Also known as the “Nutting Squad”, the ISU was responsible for hunting down and killing informers.
Earlier this week it emerged that during a closed High Court hearing earlier this month a judge ordered that Scappaticci’s will should be sealed for 70 years.
Judge Sir Julian Flaux also confirmed that the agent died on March 20, 2023.
It has been reported that Scappaticci is believed to have left £500,000 in his will.
A certificate issued in the name of Frank Cowley gives the cause of death as pneumonia and stroke, with the date of registration listed as March 27, 2023.
Cowley’s occupation is listed as a retired property developer with an address in Surrey.
The address listed is linked to a property valued online at more than £800,000.
The document also states the agent’s son, who also appears to have changed his name, was present at the time of his father’s death at St Peter’s Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey.
In 2018 Scappaticci was sentenced to three months in custody, suspended for 12 months, at Westminster Magistrates Court after he admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornography.
The court had heard the charges related to at least 329 images, many involving animals.
While the notorious agent, who has been linked to 14 murders and 15 abductions, worked for the British army’s Force Research Unit, it later emerged he was instructed by MI5 via his military handlers.
Mr Wilson learned about the latest developments through the media.
“It’s always like we find out second hand, we are never in the forefront of trying to keep us ahead of it,” he said.
He revealed that he also learned about Scappaticci’s death two years ago through the media.
“When do we as victims, in a victim led inquiry, come first?
“We are not getting what we should be getting first.
“No, we are finding out second and third party and through rumours.”
He suggested that Scappaticci continues to enjoy official protection.
“Even when they are telling us, ‘yes, he has died’, they are not even telling us when he died,” he said.
“It’s like everything has to be a secret.
“Why does this guy keep getting protection when he committed the crimes, when do the victims get any protection?”
Mr Wilson does not lay the blame at the door of Operation Kenova.
“I don’t believe this is Kenova’s fault,” he said.
“But at the same time, they are the public facing people, so they are the ones that are going to have to bear the brunt of it.
“But ultimately it impacts us and Kenova are our go-to people.”
Solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, has previously written to the Cabinet Office in London requesting information about Scappaticci’s death.
“They ought to have been afforded the respect of being told this formally as part of the ongoing engagement with Kenova,” he said.
“The Cabinet Office have let them down really badly.
“It’s just not a good look for the government authorities to have kept Stakeknifes’ identity switch a secret.”
Mr Winters said the recent revelations have reminded families “of their status as second-class conflict victims”.
Operation Kenova was contacted.
