The North Belfast MLA was speaking after the release of the report from Operation Kenova, which looked at the activities of Stakeknife, believed to be Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, as well as his handlers in the Army and MI5. He is believed to have been directly implicated in at least 14 murders while also passing intelligence about the IRA to his handlers.

Ms McAllister said the revelation highlighted by the report’s author, current PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, that Stakenife cost more lives than he saved was a “damning indictment”. 

“I welcome today’s publication of the interim report into the activities of Stakeknife,” said Ms McAllister.

“Today, in the first instance must be about the families of those who lost their loved ones. It has been a long and difficult journey for them, seeking the truth about what happened. I hope this interim report is another step towards that truth.

“The report and its revelations are a damning indictment of how the security service ran agents during the Troubles. Saving lives must and should have been paramount.

“I look forward to the final report but this once again points towards the utter folly of the UK Government’s deeply flawed Legacy Act. Truth and justice, or at least the possibility of it, is paramount in our society. To take that away from families is beyond contempt.”