Relatives of people killed by Freddie Scappaticci and the IRA’s Internal Security Unit have been left “in limbo” after compensation talks with the British government collapsed.
Mediation headed by a senior legal figure ended in disappointment for relatives when lawyers failed to reach agreement last week.
In 2003, west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, a former commander of the IRA’s Internal Security Unit (ISU), was outed as Stakeknife, although his identity has not been officially acknowledged.
The ISU was responsible for hunting down and killing informers.
The activities of Scappaticci, who has been linked to 14 murders, were investigated by Operation Kenova, which published its final report last year.
It is understood the failed mediation process considered 36 cases and included some not directly linked to Scappaticci.
It has been said that of the 40 murders considered by Operation Kenova, 26 had no connection to Scappaticci.
It is believed the recent talks were abandoned after British government proposals fell short of family expectations.
The mediation collapsed just days before the family of Anthony McKiernan (44), who was shot dead by the IRA in January 1988, take their case back to the High Court next week.
After he was killed the IRA claimed the father-of-four, from the Market area of south Belfast, was an informer, an allegation denied by his family.
The legal action had been stayed pending the outcome of mediation.
The case includes an application relating to the discovery of sensitive material under Closed Measures Proceedings (CMP).
While the McKiernan family’s legal team are excluded from the hearing, a special advocate will be appointed.
Some believe the state continues to hold significant information not revealed through Operation Kenova.
The outworking of the McKiernan application may be relevant to other cases linked to Kenova.
A relative of one victim last night said they felt “completely in limbo” after talks broke down.
“I’m angry about it,” they said.
“There seems to be no genuine desire on the part of the government to put this to bed.”
Solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said that “following recent unresolved mediation we are now pushing on with all the Kenova linked cases”.
“That includes resuming previously stayed discovery applications under section 8 of the justice and security act,” he said.
“We say there is a lot of other information yet to be released which wasn’t included in the final Kenova report last December.”
Mr Winters said there may be other agents connected to the ISU.
“Many of our clients believe this sensitive material which can’t be released into the public domain may point to the existence of other ISU agents in addition to Freddie Scappaticci,” he said.
“After all, 26 of the 40 murders investigated have no connection at all to Freddie Scappaticci.
“It’s been a job to dismantle the Freddie Scappaticci centric obsession which only served to detract from all other non-Stakeknife intelligence.
“Kenova, if you look hard enough, is revelatory.”
The solicitor has written to Secretary of State Hilary Benn asking for an apology for victims.
“Equally contentious is the failure by the Secretary of State to give an apology to all the families of murder victims despite a very strong plea by the chief constable.
“We’ve written to Hilary Benn asking for one and urging a public inquiry into systemic state sponsored murder by proxy ISU agents.
“Last week we received a holding reply advising the recent Supreme Court Dillon ruling had to be assessed before any final decision could be made
“In the meantime, we look forward to engaging the outstanding disclosure battles in the high court.”
The Northern Ireland Office was contacted.
