Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has responded to the Operation Kenova report, which reveals the shocking actions of the PIRA Internal Security Unit and the failures of British intelligence.

Doug Beattie MC MLA said,

“The Human Intelligent (HUMINT) source known as ‘Stakeknife’ was, first and foremost, a member of the Provisional IRA(PIRA) long before he was recruited by British Military Intelligence. His murderous activities displayed clear psychopathic tendencies and voyeuristic gratification in watching his victims suffer as they were tortured and murdered.  Each murder he was responsible for, and those of the Internal Security Unit he commanded, was sanctioned at the highest level by the Provisional Army Council.

“Some of those who were murdered by Stake Knife as RUC touts were guilty of little more than having an affair with another PIRA member’s wife. He wielded the power he was given by the army council with ruthlessness, and the British security services failed to keep him under control, allowing him to torture and murder with impunity. Op KENOVA was rightly critical of the Force Research Unit, RUC Special Branch, and MI5 as their systems never created a coordinated set of intelligence sharing.

“OP DENTON looked at the activities of those that fell under the umbrella of the term the ‘Glennane Gang’. These terrorists were responsible for the murder of over 120 men, women, and children, most due solely to the religion of the victim.  Within the ranks of the Glennane Gang were members of the RUC and British Military.  These individuals shamed the uniform they wore and lowered themselves to the very level of the terrorist they swore to protect the population against.  It was disgraceful behaviour, and there can be no whitewashing of their behaviour. 

“Where the report outlined collusion between individuals and loyalist terrorists, it did not find systemic collusion between state forces or British involvement in the Dublin Monaghan bombings. This is an important distinction given the thousands of members of the security forces who served with great distinction in protecting all within our society.

“At the end of the day, be it members of the Glennane Gang or the PIRA Internal Security Unit, it is those who committed the murders we need to focus on and those who directed, supported, and justified their actions.”