Scappaticci wins newspaper case

Freddie Scappaticci denies being the spy Stakeknife

An alleged high-ranking British agent within the IRA has won an apology from a tabloid newspaper for flouting a ban imposed to protect his whereabouts.

The Sunday World's publishers agreed to pay Freddie Scappaticci's £30,000 legal bill as part of the High Court settlement in Belfast.

They also agreed to make a £10,000 donation to charity

Mr Scappaticci has always denied claims that he was the spy codenamed Stakeknife.

He took action against the Sunday World following a report which referred to his current living arrangements and medical condition.

Both were covered by an injunction he secured amid fears that his life could be under threat.

Lawyers for Sunday Newspapers Ltd, its director and the journalist who wrote the story, accepted that terms had been breached.

Michael Lavery QC, for Scappaticci, claimed the article contained a "plethora of information" which could give clues to his client's current location.

He said: "So long as people keep testing the limits of the injunction they always run the risk they will go too far and on some occasion will actually lead to the loss of this man's life."