Spying inquiry 'not justified'

Mr Scappaticci spoke to the media at his solicitor's office in Belfast

An Ulster Unionist MP has said he does not believe the latest allegations about Army intelligence and the spy codenamed Stakeknife would justify a public inquiry.

David Burnside told Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme on Saturday that he believed any misdemeanours could be addressed by the Commons' Intelligence Committee.

West Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci has strenuously denied accusations of being an Army informer inside the IRA with the codename Stakeknife.

Mr Burnside dismissed calls for a public inquiry into the allegations.

"For security forces to be authorising murder in a western civilised society is totally and absolutely unacceptable. That must be investigated," said the South Antrim MP.

However, Mr Burnside said that the use of informers had been necessary in order to get insight into terrorist organisations.

"Using informers in investigating, in using money to pay, to handle and protect informers to get insight into a terrorist organisation and using, whether phone tapping or undercover activity, I would regard as justifiable,"

Meanwhile, SDLP leader Mark Durkan again called for a public inquiry into claims that military intelligence turned a blind eye to murders in order to protect informers.

"It is clearly evident that they did literally control terrorism on a number of levels, that they actually conspired to direct particular murders by particular organisations and in other cases they failed to intervene in circumstances where they could have intervened," he said.

Using money to pay, to handle and protect informers to get insight into a terrorist organisation... I would regard as justifiable

David Burnside
Ulster Unionist MP

MPs discuss 'Stakeknife' claims

Mr Scappaticci spoke to the BBC at his solicitor's office in Belfast on Wednesday and denied the allegations against him.

Mr Scappaticci, who is in his late 50s, is alleged to have been a senior figure in the IRA in Belfast for several decades.

He said he was not an active member of the republican movement.

"I was involved in the republican movement 13 years ago but I have had no involvement this past 13 years," he said.

A statement issued by Mr Scappaticci's solicitor Michael Flanigan on Wednesday reiterated denials that Mr Scappaticci had been an informer or received money from the security services.