A British Army spy operating at the heart of the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland probably cost more lives than he saved, a report has found.

The Troubles, a conflict in Northern Ireland which lasted almost 30 years, cost the lives of more than 3,500 people.

In August 1969, the UK government sent troops to impose control. The IRA, Northern Ireland’s biggest republican paramilitary group, which was founded to fight for a united Ireland, and also the Ulster Defence Association, the UDA, were carrying out bombings and shootings.

Operation Kenova investigated the British Army agent known as Stakeknife, who was Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci.

It said speculation he had saved hundreds of lives was wrong; it was more likely between high single figures and low double figures.

It found the security forces failed to prevent some murders to try to protect their agents in the IRA.

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