The Ulster Unionist Party’s justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has said that the Operation Kenova report should provide an opportunity to shine a light into the IRA’s so-called ‘internal security’ operations and identify those figures within the IRA who were directing murder gangs and acting as judge, jury and executioner.

Doug Beattie MLA said:

“I recently wrote to Jon Boutcher, the Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable who is heading the Stakeknife investigation known as Operation Kenova.

“Given the widespread concerns that exist about the imbalance in legacy investigations, especially in regards to the proposals on the establishment of the HIU, I sought assurances that no On-The-Run letters or Royal Prerogatives of Mercy, Pardons, or any other mechanism would prevent him from reporting the truth.

“I understand that he plans to hand a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) later this year and then follow that up with a public facing report. It will then be up to the PPS to decide if there should be any prosecutions.

“I hope that Operation Kenova, as was promised by Jon Boutcher and the then Attorney General, shines a light into the IRA’s so-called ‘internal security’ operations and its ‘army council’. 

“It should provide an opportunity to identify those high ranking IRA figures who were directing this reign of terror on the innocent victims in Northern Ireland and further afield. This could well make very uncomfortable reading for those who graduated from the IRA into the ranks of Sinn Fein.

“Jon Boutcher has announced that he will stand down from his position as Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police in July 2019 but will continue solely with Op Kenova. This means that the operation is likely to continue well beyond its final report date looking at issues connected with, but outside Operation Kenova’s terms of reference.”