‘Exposing Stakeknife’ talk held in Strabane

THE local 1916 Societies hosted ‘Exposing Stakeknife: An Evening with Séamus Kearney,’ at the Fir Tree Hotel last week.

Séamus, the brother of murdered Michael Kearney, who was shot dead by the IRA’s internal security unit in 1979 and his body dumped on a border road in Co Fermanagh, told a “moving” story of triumph over adversity to a packed room.

Back in 1979 Seamus was told that Michael had been killed for informing. Both brothers were IRA members.

Seamus later revealed that the IRA consequently admitted that Michael never passed information to the authorities.

Michael Kearney’s death is one of the cases being examined by Operation Kenova, which is investigating the activities of an Army agent codenamed Stakeknife inside the IRA’s internal security unit.

Stakeknife is widely believed to have been Freddie Scappaticci, who died last year.

“It is an intensely human story of comradeship, brotherhood, loyalty to a cause, and a victory achieved against all odds,” a statement from the 1916 Societies said.

“The 1916 Societies extend our sincere thanks to Séamus for sharing his journey into the depths of oppression and the soaring heights of human resistance and resilience against a sadistic and brutal enemy.”