The man accused of being ‘Stakeknife’ – the British Army’s top spy in the IRA – has died.

Freddie Scappaticci always denied being the mole – who’s said to have worked as a double agent, torturing and murdering other suspected informants for the IRA’s “nutting squad”.

It’s been claimed he was allowed to commit the violence to gain the trust of the organisation’s leadership and maintain his cover.

Joe Biden visit latest: ‘Sinister development’ as president sets off for Northern Ireland

Retired police chief Jon Boutcher has been investigating dozens of murders linked to Stakeknife and the role played by his handlers and the security services, including MI5.

The Operation Kenova report was due to be published early this year but has been delayed.

Mr Boutcher said he was made aware of Scappaticci’s death last week and his team were looking at the implications.

What is the New IRA? What the group has done and where it sits in the IRA’s history

Northern Ireland: Stormont ordered to stop delaying compensation to Troubles victims

Hyde Park bombing: IRA member John Downey was responsible for 1982 attack

“We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals,” he said.

“We will publish an interim report on Kenova’s findings this year.”

He urged anyone who might now want to talk to investigators following Scappaticci’s death to “contact us in confidence”.

Scappaticci, from West Belfast, was in his late 70s and is understood to have already been buried.

He left Northern Ireland in 2003 after being widely named as Stakeknife.

In 2018, Scappaticci appeared at a London court and admitted possessing extreme pornography.

His death comes as suspected pipe bombs were found in a cemetery in Northern Ireland, hours ahead of Joe Biden’s visit to the country.

The US president is due to arrive in the country between 9pm and 10pm in a much-anticipated trip watched over by a huge security operation.

Related posts:

Mexico crocodile attack twin describes how she punched animal as it death rolled her sister BBC journalist abused and chased by anti-lockdown protesters in London Appeal to female amputees after severed foot found on footpath ‘We are devastated’: Tribute to musician ‘beaten and thrown into river’ on holiday in Georgia Man charged with murdering woman in Somerset Final two protesters evicted from underground HS2 camp after month-long demonstration Catching COVID increases chances of suffering from depression Stunning photos show a century of England from the air Prince William says it will take ‘some time’ before ‘reality of life without Grannie will feel real’ The Fab Four reunited was just what the Queen would have wanted Firefighters tackle huge blaze at city centre building Man charged with assaulting Matt Hancock on London Tube train