PSNI Chief To Handle Claim On IRA Role Of McGuinness.(News)

Byline: STEPHEN DEMPSTER

ALLEGATIONS made about Martin McGuinness's role in the IRA will be handled by PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, it emerged last night.

The police are currently examining a complaint made to them in light of claims made by Freddie Scappaticci that the Sinn Fein negotiator had a role in luring IRA informer Frank Hegarty to his death in 1986.

It is also claimed that he was a member of the IRA Army Council at the height of its terror campaign in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mr McGuinness yesterday reiterated his denial of any involvement in Frank Hegarty's murder, and said he left the IRA in the mid-1970s.

After a recording of the claims was passed to the News Letter several weeks ago and then posted on the internet, victims' group FAIR made a statement to the police demanding an inquiry.

Last night, FAIR spokesman William Frazer said that a high-ranking police officer has told him the matter is being looked into.

He said: "I was told the tape is now in the hands of Assistant Chief Constable Maggie Hunter but that ultimately it will go to Hugh Orde who will have the final decision to make on what to do with it.

"My statement on the matter is clear, as the relatives of victims and acting for other relatives, I want to see Mr Scappaticci questioned and McGuinness questioned."

The allegations against him have been circulating for more than a decade.

But now that the tape recording of west Belfast ex-IRA man Scappaticci making the claims has been aired on the internet and the UTV Insight programme - along with an admission from "Scap" that it was him on the tape - pressure is mounting for an investigation.

Meanwhile, one of Stakeknife's Army handlers has been co-operating with the Stevens Inquiry into collusion.

It is alleged the man from Northern Ireland, who is suffering from a terminal illness, has come clean on the alleged activities of Stakeknife - the top British agent in the IRA.

He worked for the British Army's secretive Force Research Unit (FRU) which handled Stakeknife, who it is alleged was guided to kill at the British State's request.

Among the victims, it is claimed, were other British agents in the IRA who the Army no longer had a use for.

Stakeknife has been named as Scappaticci, although he continues to deny this allegation.

s.dempster@newsletter.co.uk