IRA ‘agent’ in court over pornography

A MAN widely named as the Army’s notorious IRA agent Stakeknife has avoided prison after admitting two counts of possessing extreme pornography.

Freddie Scappaticci, 72, appeared briefly before Westminster magistrates in central London to admit the charges, which related to at least 329 images, including those involving animals.

Wearing a blue fleece and green tracksuit bottoms, Scappaticci spoke with an Irish accent to enter his pleas to the charges.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot sentenced Scappaticci to three months in custody, suspended for 12 months.

The magistrate said: “You have not been before the court for 50 years - and that’s good character in my book.

“I can see you are not a well man at all - you have very serious health issues - and that you live a lonely life.”

Scappaticci has always strongly denied claims that he is Stakeknife, a high-ranking military mole who reputedly led the republican organisation’s “nutting squad”, which interrogated and murdered suspected spies.