Families of IRA Victims Demand Accountability After Kenova Report

Families of victims killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) gathered in Belfast to respond to the **Operation Kenova** report, which revealed troubling findings about the actions of British security forces during the Troubles. This marked the first public meeting of families affected by the IRA’s notorious internal unit, known as the “nutting squad,” which was involved in the murders of suspected informants in the **1980s**.

In a basement room of a Belfast hotel, **Claire Dignam** shared her emotional journey, recounting her years of hiding and shame after believing she had married an informer. “Now I feel alive and I am not going to hide again,” she said. “My husband was **Johnny Dignam**, and I don’t care what anyone said about him in the past. My husband was innocent.” Her sentiments echoed the shared pain of many who lost loved ones to violence.

The **final report** from Operation Kenova, a **£40 million** investigation into the activities of a British Army double agent known as **Stakeknife**, was publicly unveiled on **March 15, 2024**. The report accused British security forces of prioritizing Stakeknife, identified as **Freddie Scappaticci**, over the lives of victims. It revealed that crucial intelligence that could have saved lives was neglected, as it was “quietly filed away” to protect the agent.

Despite the vast amount of intelligence attributed to Stakeknife, which includes over **3,500 reports**, the investigation concluded that he was responsible for more deaths than he prevented. The report documented his involvement in “grotesque serious crimes,” including **14 murders** and the abduction of **15 individuals**. Notably, Scappaticci’s name was omitted from the **164-page report** due to the UK security policy of “neither confirm nor deny” on sensitive matters, a decision criticized by former lead investigator **Jon Boutcher**. Boutcher, who now serves as Chief Constable of the **Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)**, highlighted a “culture of secrecy” that hindered the investigation.

As families listened to the report’s findings, anger filled the room. Many expressed their frustration over the possibility that their loved ones might have been saved had the intelligence been acted upon. **Kevin Winters**, the families’ solicitor, described the findings as opening a “Pandora’s box” regarding the actions of MI5 and other intelligence agencies.

**Moira Todd**, whose brother **Eugene Simons** was murdered by Stakeknife’s unit in **1981**, raised concerns about the extent of British infiltration within the IRA. “Did it go to **Margaret Thatcher**? Did she approve anything? Those are the things we need to know,” she stated. Her frustration was palpable, as she lamented the stigma her family faced due to the label of “tout” associated with suspected informers.

**Paul Wilson**, whose father **Thomas Emmanuel Wilson** was also killed by the IRA’s internal unit in **1987**, criticized the report for failing to name Stakeknife directly. “You can’t investigate the agent known as Stakeknife, spend all the money, and then not find out who he is – that seems like a gaping own goal,” he remarked.

The gathering represented a significant change for families who have long been ostracized by their communities. For decades, those labeled as informants faced social exclusion, despite many being innocent. The presence of numerous families at the event indicated a growing willingness to confront the past.

As Dignam reflected on the day’s events, she felt a sense of empowerment. “I wanted to be invisible for years. It’s different now. I feel brave,” she said, emphasizing the importance of solidarity among the families. Her husband was murdered in **1992**, leaving her with two young children. “My husband’s death could have been prevented. I took heart today from other families; they know how I feel,” she added.

The unveiling of the Operation Kenova report has ignited a renewed call for accountability and transparency regarding the actions of British security forces during a tumultuous period in Northern Ireland’s history. Families are determined to seek justice, hoping to uncover the truth behind the events that shaped their lives.