Operation Kenova is an ongoing criminal investigation into whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland failed to investigate as many as 18 murders in order to protect a high level double agent codenamed Stakeknife who worked for the Force Research Unit, while at the same time he was deeply embedded and trusted within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).[1] The 2017, initial investigation was headed up by Jon Boutcher the former Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police until his appointment as Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2023.[2] It is now led by Iain Livingstone, former Chief Constable of Police Scotland.[3]
Stakeknife, a Government asset and widely acknowledged to be Freddie Scappaticci led the IRA Internal Security Unit, also known as the Nutting Squad that had killed around thirty people while Scappaticci was involved with it.[1] Senior British officers had referred to Stakeknife as the "golden egg" due to the calibre of information he supplied.[1]
Research by Panorama suggested that Stakeknife was so highly prized that other agents were sacrificed to conceal his identity.[1] Panorama claimed that Joseph Fenton was executed by the IRA despite Stakeknife informing his handlers that Fenton was to be killed.[1] The authorities failed to react and did nothing to prevent the murder.[1]
In July 2020 Boutcher expressed concern with the British Government's idea to close most legacy investigations and provide full investigations into only a few. He questioned whether the plan complied with the law.[2]
A year later, investigators working for Kenova announced that they had obtained new DNA evidence relating to the murder of Thomas Oliver.[4][5]
^ abcdefBatchelor, Tom (11 April 2017). "Police 'failed to investigate 18 murders in Northern Ireland to protect IRA mole'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ abO'Neill, Julian (30 June 2020). "Jon Boutcher voices "extreme caution" over legacy idea". BBC News. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^"Ex-Police Scotland chief to lead Kenova probe as Jon Boutcher takes up top PSNI job". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 12 October 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^Carroll, Rory (19 July 2021). "Police find new forensic evidence in case of farmer murdered by IRA". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^"Investigation into IRA murder of Tom Oliver uncovers new DNA evidence". TheJournal.ie. Press Association. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
OperationKenova is an ongoing criminal investigation into whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland failed to investigate as many as 18...
Kenova may refer to: Kenova, Arkansas, United States; see List of places in Arkansas: K Kenova, West Virginia, United States, a city OperationKenova...
informers while in the employ of the FRU. The British government launched OperationKenova to investigate claims that the Royal Ulster Constabulary had failed...
also leads OperationKenova, a series of historical investigations into murders which occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Kenova published...
Scappaticci (12 January 1946 – April 2023) was an Irish IRA member named in the Kenova report, as a British Intelligence mole with the codename ‘Stakeknife’. Scappaticci...
to 2011; he was succeeded by Gerry Adams. Investigators working in OperationKenova announced that they had obtained new DNA evidence relating to the murder...
Detachment (WV ARNG) - SGM Earl R. Biggs Memorial Armed Forces Reserve Center, Kenova, West Virginia Company A (RI ARNG) - Middletown Armory, Middletown, Rhode...
Prosecution Service announces that 16 people investigated as part of OperationKenova will not face any charges. Those investigated include former members...
Carolina, to Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) near Kenova and Ceredo, West Virginia. At 7:36 pm on November 14, 1970, the aircraft...
a detour over the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) tracks between Gilbert and Kenova, West Virginia. 40 uninjured passengers took refuge in the three sleeping...
Howard Shipyard in 1891. The single-boiler steamer began in ferry service at Kenova, West Virginia, and later operated at Wheeling, West Virginia. Emily was...
shipping, C&O contracted with its rival Norfolk & Western to carry trains from Kenova,. W. Va. to Columbus. N&W, however, limited this business and the arrangement...
and Western Railway (N&W) in the United States. It made its inaugural operation on April 28, 1946, and proclaimed as one of America's first new postwar...
America to flip to Christmas music for the 2023 season. (Though WMGA in Kenova, West Virginia had flipped to Christmas music on October 19, this format...
Oceanographer were detached to join three Coast and Geodetic Survey launches at Kenova, West Virginia, where they performed flood relief work under the direction...
Hunsaker was in a coma for 9 days during which he underwent two brain operations. Hunsaker became the youngest police chief in the history of West Virginia...
Eisenhower Special presidential campaign train from Columbus, Ohio, to Kenova, West Virginia, with brief whistle stops in Ohio at Chillicothe, Portsmouth...
October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020. Madden, Andrew (30 November 2019). "Kenova boss Jon Boutcher to head up collusion probe into 'Glenanne Gang' killings"...
19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Kenova, West Virginia Special Operations Detachment - Europe (SOD-E) 197th Regiment (Regional Training...
born in the small town of Crum, West Virginia. Maynard attended Ceredo-Kenova High School where his father was a teacher and coach, graduating in 1954...
Global Information