Fulton repeats 'Stakeknife' claims

A key witness at the Smithwick Tribunal has repeated claims that the republican Freddie Scappaticci was a British agent in the IRA known by the codename Stakeknife.

Kevin Fulton also told the tribunal he believed former IRA bomb-maker Patrick “Mooch” Blair was also effectively a British agent who was “being protected by some state agency – north and south”.

Mr Fulton, a former British agent, said that after the Omagh bombing, he and his M15 handlers had decided to target Mr Blair for arrest in an elaborate sting involving the sale of STG£10million worth of Viagra tablets.

But he said all his efforts to set up Mr Blair were thwarted.

He told Michael Durack SC for the Garda he had been eventually told by his handler: “I am not to talk to you anymore”.

Mr Fulton said he came to believe Mr Blair “walked on water” and was “more or less an agent.”

Mr Fulton, who has told the tribunal there was collusion between Det Sgt Owen Corrigan of Dundalk Garda station and the IRA in the murder of two RUC officers, also agreed with Mr Durack that in April 2002 he sought Garda help in a case against the British authorities for a “financial package” to provide for his retirement.

He agreed with Mr Durack that he never mentioned any issue of collusion at that time.

In an often heated exchange with Martin O’Rourke, counsel for Mr Scappaticci, Mr Fulton – who is also known as Peter Keeley – said it was “an actual fact” that Mr Scappaticci “is an informer and he is Stakeknife”.

Mr Fulton said he was going to sue Mr Scappaticci’s legal team for downloading what he said was a stolen picture of him, the copyright of which he said he owned.

He also admitted he had contacted Warner Brothers because of reports that his life story was to be turned into a movie, to be called The Infiltrator potentially starring Leonardo di Caprio.

He acknowledged he had sought to establish copyright on his own life in two emails to Warner Brothers.

In further questioning he acknowledged he was suing the British authorities for a financial package but he denied he was motivated by money. "I am not driven by money. I am not getting paid, are you?" he asked Mr O’Rourke.