IRA veteran Martin Meehan amazed at Freddie Stakeknife claims

A veteran IRA chief and Sinn Fein councillor today admitted to being "flabbergasted" over the Stakeknife spy allegations, as controversy over collusion flared up in the House of Commons.

Martin Meehan - once dubbed the most wanted man in Britain - said he knew alleged Army agent Freddie Scappaticci and was interned with him three decades ago.

"Whether what's being said is true or not, I don't know. I'm flabbergasted by it all," Mr Meehan said.

Former Labour Northern Ireland spokesman, Kevin McNamara, today alleged in the Commons that successive Governments had "sanctioned murder" in Ulster.

Calling for an independent inquiry into collusion allegations made by Sir John Stevens, the MP added: "The public has been kept in the dark too long. Those that are guilty should be called to account - no matter how high up."

In a statement issued through a solicitor yesterday, Scappaticci flatly denied being Stakeknife, the Army's top IRA agent.

Mr Meehan, an Antrim councillor who was a senior IRA figure in the 1970s, today said: "I have no doubt that British intelligence was well advanced in terms of infiltration. Sometimes, you weren't just fighting the enemy, you were fighting the enemy within."

Sinn Fein's leadership has been trying to play down the Stakeknife affair, with former Assemblyman, Gerry Kelly, blaming media speculation on British intelligence.

Reports today suggested that there is growing dissatisfaction within the republican community that Scappaticci has not appeared at a press conference to deny the allegations in person.

Security sources are adamant that he was whisked away from his home by Army and police at the weekend.

Scappaticci yesterday denied being in protective custody and the Ministry of Defence said he was not in the Army's custody.

The Guardian quoted Whitehall sources as saying that he was in a safe house protected by the security services. Other reports claimed the alleged spy was staying at the Army's intelligence corps base at Chicksands, Bedfordshire.

Mr Meehan today said republicans would not be surprised at allegations about British intelligence.

"A top loyalist once told me that if I knew how close I came to being killed, I wouldn't be able to sleep.

"He said they were passed intelligence information and even knew the colour of my wallpaper."

Belfast Telegraph