Files reveal PM Blair's chief-of-staff wrote large swathes of key speech in 2002 by Gerry Adams on disbandment of the IRA
Sam McBride, Belfast Telegraph, July 28th, 2025
MUCH OF WHAT WAS SAID BY SINN FÉIN PRESIDENT AT CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN STUTTERING PEACE PROCESS CRAFTED IN DOWNING STREET BY JONATHAN POWELL, DOCUMENTS SHOW
A man who is now a key figure in Britain's intelligence apparatus wrote key sections of a seminal speech Gerry Adams gave about the IRA's disbandment, declassified files prove.
The Sinn Féin president's words in October 2002 came at a critical point in the peace process where the IRA was on the back foot after a series of incidents.
It had been discovered smuggling guns in from Florida, caught training FARC rebels in Colombia, faced a backlash over the post-September 11 war on terror, and was known to still be widely involved in criminality and so-called 'punishment shootings'.
That had contributed to unionism deserting David Trimble for the DUP, with the First Minister clinging to office but lacking real authority even within his own party.
Against that backdrop, an IRA spy ring at Stormont was exposed at the start of October 2002, prompting the government to suspend the institutions before Trimble walked out.
Just three weeks later Adams turned to a highly unlikely source to help write a speech about the IRA: the Prime Minister's chief-of-staff, Jonathan Powell.
A decade ago Powell revealed in his book that Adams had asked him for advice on what to say in the speech, and that the Sinn Féin leader had then used Powell's words.
However, at the time Sinn Féin played down the claim, saying that speeches and specific phrases were often shared with the government during the talks.
A party spokesman said at the time: “All of this was as part of ongoing efforts to help the situation. However, Gerry Adams is very clear that 'any remarks I made were entirely my responsibility and not scripted by anyone outside Sinn Fein.'”
Now, however, Downing Street files declassified at The National Archives in Kew and discovered by the Belfast Telegraph prove Powell was right — and show the precise phrases Adams uttered which were crafted in Downing Street.
The material also shows that far from Sinn Féin's suggestion this was common at the time, it was not, and was viewed as “bizarre” by Powell.
Top Securocrat facilitated Adams including misinformation in speech
Powell, who is now chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee — the powerful body which analyses intelligence from MI5, MI6 and the military — said in a 'confidential and personal' memo to the Prime Minister on October 24, 2002: “Gerry Adams called me this afternoon and bizarrely asked me to suggest written ideas for his speech on Saturday responding to your speech.
“I attach the note I propose to send him tomorrow. Can you let me have comments over-night. He also tried to put the frighteners on, as he had previously with John Reid, by saying he had seen 'some people' and he felt the situation was slipping away from him.
“I said that you had said what you had said about a return to violence and they could count on the fact that we would never talk to SF again if PIRA returned to violence. They would have to wait for a new government before continuing with the peace process.”
When he responded to Adams, Powell told him he should “first recognise that [Blair's] speech was a serious attempt to move things on and engage in dialogue and second to agree that we need acts of completion”.
He set out three pages of phrases and ideas he could included.
Powell suggested Adams say that he “deplore [the] 4 October [spying] operation, but do not believe that any of the material that was recovered would ever be used for targeting purposes by IRA”.
That directly contradicted the government's own assessment that the most concerning element of the material recovered was that some of it was related to possible targeting of prison officers in particular.
Welcomed Policing initiative
Adams' key aide, Richard McAuley, then emailed Adams' speech to Powell at 10pm on a Friday evening. Within half-an-hour Powell had forwarded it to Downing Street's duty clerk with a message that it should be sent to the PM, the Secretary of State, Jonathan Philips and Downing Street press officer Tom Kelly immediately, emphasising the word a second time in capitals: “IMMEDIATE”.
In his speech in Monaghan, Adams said: “I can conceive of a world in which it would be appropriate for Sinn Féin to join the Policing Board…” Every one of those 20 words was written by Downing Street.
In Adams' speech, he lamented how the media was “fed stories planted from within the British system” in relation to alleged IRA activity — while he himself was being fed from the heart of the British Establishment key sections of what was a crucial speech.
Powell suggested Adams recognise Blair's speech “as a serious attempt to move things on”. Adams said in Monaghan it was “a serious and detailed speech”.
Powell suggested Adams say: “Tony Blair's speech last week was portrayed in the media as no more than a call for the IRA to disband. I understand why that angered republicans.”
Adams said: “Mr Blair's speech last week, understandably, was portrayed in the media as no more than a call for the IRA to disband. He is bound to understand why that has angered republicans.”
Powell suggested Adams say: “And having looked at it carefully I do see some positive elements.”
Adams said: “And having looked at it carefully I do see some positive elements.”
He went on to list sections of Mr Blair's speech, adding the words “I agree”, as Powell had suggested.
Powell suggested Adams say that “the IRA is never going to disband in response to ultimatums from the British government, or David Trimble”.
Adams said: “The IRA is never going to disband in response to ultimatums from the British government, or David Trimble.”
He went on to say: “So, if you ask me do I envisage a future without the IRA? The answer is obvious. The answer is yes.”
Two months later Powell wrote a confidential note to Blair in which he said: “A deal on Northern Ireland involving demobilisation of the IRA is within reach. But it will require your personal involvement and some very clever footwork to bring it to conclusion in time before the elections.
“Adams and McGuinness are hinting they can deliver what we want from the IRA but are demanding as high a price from us on the other side as they can get. And they are signalling clearly that this time it will be a major task to sell any agreement.”
A section which follows has been blacked out.
Deputy First Minister Wimbledon trip ‘justification’ questioned
John Manley, Political Correspondent, Irish News, July 28th, 2025
THE chair of a Stormont scrutiny committee has queried the “justification” of the DUP deputy first minister’s taxpayer-funded trip to Wimbledon.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said she wanted to urgently establish “the benefit to the public” of funding Emma Little-Pengelly’s attendance at the ladies singles’ Centre Court clash between Emma Raducanu and defending champion Marketa Vondrousova earlier this month.
Ms Little-Pengelly, whose deputy first minister’s salary is £125,000, was accompanied by her husband and Education Authority boss Richard Pengelly, with the couple watching from the Royal Box.
The deputy first minister was invited to the sporting event by the chair of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The cost to the public purse, which included flights and accommodation, was £980. It is understood Mr Pengelly covered the cost of his own flight.
Also among the costs recorded by the Stormont department for the trip were £96 for “airport services”, £152 on transport and £12.50 for booking costs.
Ms Little-Pengelly described being invited to the Royal Box as the “honour of a lifetime”, while her husband faced criticism at the time, as the Wimbledon trip was taken in the midst of an unfolding crisis over a lack of school places for dozens of children with special educational needs.
Michelle O’Neill opted for GAA semi-final
First Minister Michelle O’Neill was also invited to Wimbledon but instead attended the all-Ireland semi final which took place that weekend.
Ms Bradshaw told The Irish News there needed to be “a justification for spending of this nature”. “As a committee scrutinising the Executive Office’s work, we will want to know how such spending was in line with established departmental policy and how any such policy was developed,” she said.
“We have also noted that the expenditure appears to have covered both the deputy first Minister and her husband, who also holds a prominent post linked to a different department.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Wimbledon with husband and EA boss Richard Pengelly
Executive Office committee chair Paula Bradshaw
The South Belfast representative said in an era of constrained budgets, the committee would be seeking to establish “how such expenditure was deemed to be of interest to the public who ultimately paid for it”.
TUV MLA Timothy Gas-ton described the deputy first minister’s trip as a “jolly.”
“Of course the deputy first minister is quite entitled to accept the hospitality of the All England Club, but to leave the public purse to pick up the near £1,000 cost, when she is already handsomely paid via the taxpayer, is a bit much,” he said.
“When you break the cost of the trip down – with taxpayers even having to cover a £96 charge for ‘airport services’ – whatever they were? – and the £12.50 for booking costs, the story is even more outrageous.”
The North Antrim representative questioned the “benefit” of the trip to Northern Ireland. The Executive Office has been approached for comment.
UUP leader says he may step down before next election
Conor Sheils, Irish News, July 28th, 2025
HEALTH Minister Mike Nesbitt has said he is unsure if he will continue to lead the UUP into the next election.
Mr Nesbitt has been at the helm of the Ulster Unionist Party since 2024 after previously holding the position between 2012 and 2017.
Speaking to comedian Tim McGarry on the Give My Head Peace podcast, Mr Nesbitt said he would make a final decision in January next year.
“In terms of the party and myself, I will probably make a decision no later than January coming about whether I should run again in 2027,” he said.
“I’ll be 70. I’ll have done 16 years. That might be enough, but I’ll make a decision in good time.”
When asked about the timing of the decision he said he wanted allow his successor “a good run” into the 2027 election race.
“Probably early next year I think in fairness because you’ve got to give who if I’m standing down, if I am, you want to give the next person a good run into the election.”
Mr Nesbitt also spoke about his time as health minister and said he wants to make a positive change in the time that remains in the mandate.
“So there’s about 23 months left in this mandate. So in terms of health, the ambition is to set a direction of travel that the next minister feels compelled to follow,” he said.
“Because in tackling things like the health inequalities, you can’t do that in two years, but over seven years, you’ll see the difference. So that’s the ambition, set a direction of travel that the next minister is going to follow.”
“I don’t buy into the narrative that the health service is in terminal, irreversible decline, because I think that’s a narrative of despair. And I think it does a great disservice to the, there’s probably 70,000 people who are delivering healthcare in this country in one way or another. There are huge challenges.”
Meanwhile, he went on to say that the system of government at Stormont needs to be more effective in the time ahead.
“Well, what we did back in ’98 was we designed a system of gov-ernment that got everybody into the tent and stopped the violence. They didn’t sit down to say, let’s design the most effective, efficient system of government the planet’s ever seen,” he said.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt says he doesn’t “buy into the narrative that the health service is in terminal, irreversible decline”, which he called “a narrative of despair”
“But at this stage, this removed from ’98; 25, 27 years on, surely we’ve got to think about now what is an efficient, effective system of government and how do we start delivering?”
Reflections on a rare – and civil – meeting with the Orange Order
Noel Doran, Irish News, July 28th, 2025
THE outspoken criticisms of The Irish News expressed by the memorably named Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) last week might indicate that the most recent meeting between the two organisations was a tense affair.
That was not the case, and the exchanges over lunch at Schomberg House, the east Belfast headquarters of the Orange institution, turned out to be brisk, businesslike and, at stages, entertaining.
The occasion is worth revisiting after the intemperate views about this newspaper and a range of other media groups which featured in the blunt GOLI statement reviewing coverage of developments over the July 12 period.
It claimed that The Irish News used “so-called ‘commentators’ who are paid to produce content… spewing bile and intolerance towards anything associated with our culture, our community, and our traditions”.
After also taking aim at the BBC, the Belfast Telegraph and the Sunday Life, the statement then said: “We have previously engaged with The Irish News with little success. Regrettably, the vitriol and intolerance of their approach appears to be worse than ever.”
As there was just one face-to-face discussion between Orange leaders and this paper during the 25 years when I was editor, and to date no others have followed since I stood down last year, this could only have been a reference to the encounter which took place back in April 2016.
There had been various suggestions for a while in both directions that we should have an informal chat, and the atmosphere was eventually set by the cordial letter from GOLI extending the invitation.
In a sharply different tone from last week’s intervention, it said: “The Orange Institution is proud of the long-standing relationship it has with all of the local media outlets, including The Irish News, and looks forward to maintaining and enhancing that partnership in the months ahead.”
I was happy to go to Schomberg House, accompanied by my friend and colleague Fiona McGarry, then our assistant editor, later our managing editor and perhaps unsurprisingly the only woman in attendance, as I knew the Cregagh Road building well.
It was for decades the base of Castlereagh Borough Council, and, as the Belfast Telegraph’s former local government correspondent, I used to walk from my nearby home to cover the colourful monthly sittings which regularly extended into the early hours of the morning.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland last week strongly criticised The Irish News and other media outlets for coverage of events surrounding the July 12 period
The DUP’s Peter Robinson dominated proceedings there, and once instigated a formal motion demanding that I should be removed from my post, but the welcome from the GOLI leadership was significantly warmer.
Museum Tour and Orange Juice
“They took us on a tour of their museum, which provides a fascinating if not exactly neutral account of Irish history since 1690, and is well worth a visit, before bringing us to their boardroom for soup, sandwiches and, as I recall, orange juice ”
They took us on a tour of their museum, which provides a fascinating if not exactly neutral account of Irish history since 1690, and is wellworth a visit, before bringing us to their boardroom for soup, sandwiches and, as I recall, orange juice.
There is no need to name the GOLI representatives, who largely remain in place today, apart from the then grand secretary Drew Nelson, who organised the agenda with his usual courtesy but sadly died after a short illness six months later.
One of the highlights came when, entirely unexpectedly, a senior Orange figure informed me he had been friendly with my late father Arthur and we swapped anecdotes about his involvement in various community initiatives in south Down.
Arthur had a keen sense of humour, and, as a founder of Glasdrumman GAC, the long-serving registrar to Down GAA’s county board and coordinator of Feis an Dúin, would have enjoyed the idea that his life and times were a talking point in Orange HQ.
There were still plenty of robust exchanges about our columnists, and we confirmed that the Orange side was slightly but not totally better disposed towards Alex Kane than Brian Feeney.
We talked over lines of communication and interpretations of news reports, as well as encouraging rights of reply, before parting on good terms, with Fiona and I accepting gifts of Orange publications and inscribed GOLI pens.
I subsequently used the same pen to take notes during much more abrasive talks with nationalist politicians, GAA officials and Catholic bishops, although fortunately noone noticed.
It is a little hard to understand why relationships with Orangeism seem to have declined dramatically since our civilised Schomberg House summit nine years ago, but it may not have been a total coincidence that the Brexit referendum, with all its unprecedented pressures and disastrous consequences for the unionist tradition, followed just over two months later
While there have also been hints that last week’s statement was influenced by a particular consultant who was definitely not present at our polite 2016 lunch, that is a matter for GOLI.
I may still make a return trip to the Museum of Orange Heritage, reflect on my diverse experiences within the same walls, and offer some further thoughts to readers.
‘Plague of violence against women and girls cannot go on’
Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph, July 28th, 2025
It is a tragedy so awful that it is hard to find the words — a mother and her two children shot dead in their own home.
The pictures of Vanessa Whyte with James and Sara are full of joy.
Vanessa had moved from Co Clare and worked as a vet for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The family had a huge network of friends within the school and sporting community.
All have been left devastated by the news of their violent and senseless deaths in Fermanagh last week.
They are now added to the long list of women and children in Northern Ireland to die in domestic-related incidents.
The majority of those women died in their own homes at the hands of a violent partner.
Others were killed by adult sons, and one by a grandson.
Ending violence against women and girls needs to be more than just a soundbite, or a government and policing pledge with no real substance.
While clearly not all violent deaths here are women, the ease in which so many men turn to violence against a partner is terrifying.
Last week I spoke to Rea Johnson, who is researching a PhD on femicide. She said something that has stuck with me since.
When the Covid lockdown happened, domestic violence calls to police increased across the UK.
NI an exception to overall decline in Femicide rates
But while everywhere else the murder rate went down, here it went up; in fact, it almost doubled.
Groups like Women's Aid warned the lockdown was a disaster for those suffering coercive control and domestic violence. These victims were now locked up with their abuser 24 hours a day and isolated from any support.
Since then the violent deaths of women have continued: a heavily pregnant Sarah Montgomery was killed in her home last month, leaving her other two children without a mother.
Mary Ward lay dead, her head slumped against a window for days before her body was discovered.
The PSNI has referred itself to the Police Ombudsman in relation to its previous dealing with the 21-year-old.
Vanessa Whyte is the 28th adult woman killed here since 2020 — a shocking figure in a place with a population of 1.9 million.
She was a professional and accomplished woman in her career. Her murder is a reminder for those who need to hear it that domestic violence knows no barriers.
Those 28 victims came from all walks of life, all social and economic backgrounds, and across generations.
The one thing they had in common was that they were suffering abuse that ended in violence.
Often that can be in the form of coercion or financial exploitation; isolating their victim from their friends and family, destroying their confidence and convincing them that they are somehow responsible for the abuse inflicted on them.
We know that we need to start teaching our young men what a normal, healthy relationship looks like.
Tate and McGregor champion misogyny
We need to promote positive role models, not the online misogynistic, toxic masculinity promoted by people like Andrew Tate and Conor McGregor.
The changes to how pornography can be accessed in the UK following the Online Safety Bill is a step in the right direction, but more is needed.
We also need to teach our young women their worth and ensure they have the necessary tools to spot the danger signs and protect themselves before it is too late.
When an abuser's mask slips, their victim must have the confidence to walk away before it is too late.
We read about the women murdered, we hear how the figures are shocking and how this is a situation that needs to be addressed with political, policing and societal support.
It cannot go on and it needs more than just words of condemnation.
If you are in a violent relationship, try and free yourself. It isn't easy but there is help. It will not get better and you deserve a life free from fear.
If you have concerns about a new partner, or the relationship of a friend or family member, you can contact the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme, which gives the public a 'right to ask'.
This is a formal mechanism to make enquiries where there is a concern that the individual may be abusive towards their partner.
If a disclosure is deemed necessary, lawful and proportionate, the person potentially at risk will receive the information.
Help is out there. The 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline can be contacted on 0808 802 1414.
Freeing yourself from a violent relationship, particularly if there are children involved, is incredibly difficult and frightening.
While it often means going off into the unknown, tragically, in too many cases, the alternative has been so much worse.
Number of children being educated at home tops 1,000 for the first time
Caolan Fleming, Irish News, July 28th, 2025
There has been a huge increase in ‘home schooling’ over the last five years – with the biggest annual jump coming in the 2024/25 academic year.
The statistics from the Education Authority (EA) were shared in a response to a series of assembly questions from Alliance member Michelle Guy.
Ms Guy had asked Education Minister Paul Givan about children missing in education
Education experts suggest that the increased popularity of home educating mirrors a trend happening in the US.
There has also been a notable spike since the Covid-19 pandemic when remote learning was introduced across the north.
While the numbers are relatively small, observers have previously claimed that home-schooling’s rising popularity is evidence of increased disillusionment with the education system.
The figures show that there are now 1,099 young people known to the EA as being “electively home educated” – a rise from 945.
In 2020/21, there were 710 pupils known to the EA that had been home educated.
The number of children receiving an education from home has grown in the last five years
The number increased steadily since then, rising to 808 and 907 by 2022/23.
The figures do not count remote learning during Covid lockdowns but instead focus on those who are not learning within mainstream school systems.
The figures also may not include all children currently receiving education from home, as some may have never enrolled in a school.
Ms Guy said that while the information provided showed the number of children electively home educated was now over 1,000, “the actual number may be much higher”.
“For example, if a child has never attended school, there is no legal requirement on parents to make any contact with the EA or Department of Education,” she said.
“If a child is being de-registered from a school for home education, the EA are reliant on the school completing a particular form, however in a recent circular to schools, the EA noted that both they and the department are aware that schools may not always be doing this.
“Families may opt for home schooling for a variety of reasons, but it must always be done in the best interests of the child. It must be ensured that they are receiving a quality education and have all the social opportunities and connections their peers will.”
She added that families and young people should “never feel forced into home schooling because our education system has failed them”.
“Whether that is because of bullying not being adequately addressed, special, special educational needs support not being in place, or if they require support,” Ms Guy said.
“That situation should not be tolerated.”
Ms Guy said there were some concerns about how the progress of these children was tracked to ensure they are receiving an appropriate education.
In his reply to Ms Guy’s question, Mr Givan said the Department of Education does not currently hold information in relation to the number of children currently missing in education the north.
“ Families may opt for home schooling for a variety of reasons, but it must always be done in the best interests of the child. It must be ensured that they are receiving a quality education and have all the social opportunities and connections their peers will”.
However, his department does receive monthly management information from the EA on school attendance.
“This information is cumulative; it counts information throughout the year and therefore cannot identify pupils who are absent from school,” he said.
“There are many reasons for a pupil to be absent from school and the pupil level information received does not provide the reasons for absence.”
The statistics provided he added, provided an overview of the number of children “known to have been de-registered for the purposes of Elective Home Education (EHE)”.
“Other reasons why a child may be de-registered from a school include having permanently left the country and the death of a child,” Mr Givan said.
A5: Department was told seven times about climate act issues
John Manley, Political Correspondent, Irish News, July 28th, 2025
ANDREW Muir has revealed that his officials met their counterparts from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) no fewer than seven times to discuss the potential impact of climate legislation on the latest plans to build the A5.
The High Court ruled in June that the £1.7bn project could not goahead as planned because it failed to comply with Stormont’s climate change targets.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the road on which more than 50 people have died since 2006 when an upgrade was first scheduled to begin.
The failure of DFI officials to adequately address climate change considerations on foot of the meetings with their Daera counterparts has been described as “inconceivable”.
The court’s ruling prompted calls for the climate legislation to be amended, while those who opposed it in the assembly in 2022 claim they have been vindicated over the warnings about its impact.
Land vested along the A5 route following the announcement of the road’s go-ahead by the then infrastructure minister John O’Dowd in October last year has since been handed back.
Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said earlier this month that she would be “pursuing” an appeal to the court ruling which will require the approval of the Stormont executive.
In correspondence seen by The Irish News, Agriculture and Environment Minister Muir reveals that between December 2023 and May last year, his officials met with DfI on seven occasions to assist the latter “in the preparation of their response to the climate related recommendations made by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) which referred to my department”.
A PAC report in 2023 said DfI needed to ensure its policies, including authorising the development of road schemes, was consistent with the targets set out in Stormont’s Climate Change Act.
Latest delay to A5 project a result of ‘gross incompetence’
In last month’s ruling Justice McAlinden said that in relation to the A5 proposals there had been a lack of consultation and scrutiny of a new method for estimating greenhouse gas emissions, and an “inadequacy of information for the purpose of lawful decision making”.
In a letter to SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, Mr Muir said the nature of his officials’ engagement with DfI was “to articulate the factual and le-gal position around emission targets, carbon budgets and the Climate Action Plan”.
The failure of DfI officials to adequately address climate change considerations on foot of the meetings with their Daera counterparts has drawn criticism from Mr McGlone’s party colleague, Daniel McCrossan.
“It is inconceivable that despite meeting several times to discuss climate targets and the Climate Action Plain in relation to the A5 project that the previous minister and the department did not take this into consideration when bringing forward plans for the project, leaving them open to legal challenge and the situation we now find ourselves in,” the West Tyrone representative said.
“This latest delay is a result of gross incompetence and we have still not heard what the minister intends to do about it. People in this area are angry that their lives and the lives of their loved ones are being put at risk every day while they travel on this dangerous road.”
Mr McCrossan urged the minster to “immediately” lodge an appeal against the court ruling “alongside steps to address the judge’s concerns so that we can get on with building this road”.
A DfI spokesperson confirmed there was “regular engagement” with Daera officials to consider the PAC’s recommendations.
“In making his ruling the Judge accepted that DfI did its very best to assure itself that, when it is finished the road will not stop it making progress towards the goal of decarbonising the transport sector by 2050. He also said in his judgement that departments did speak to each other on this issue,” DfI said.
“But the most important point made by the judge was the need for a new and safer A5 dual carriageway – so that no other name is added to the long list of those who have died on the existing road. Now those of us who also agree that the new A5 is needed should work together to ensure this life-saving road is built.”
The High Court ruled in June that the A5 project could not go-ahead as planned because it failed to comply with Stormont’s climate change targets.
Scappaticci’s Will to receive the Royal treatment
By Callum Parke, PA Law Reporter, Belfast News Letter, July 28th, 2025
The will of Alfredo Scappaticci, the man believed to be the IRA agent known as Stakeknife, will not be made public, the High Court has ruled.
Freddie Scappaticci , who changed his name to Frank Cowley in 2020, was believed to be Britain's top agent inside the IRA.
Scappaticci, from west Belfast , had always denied the claims before his death aged 77 in 2023.
In a ruling on Monday, Sir Julian Flaux ordered that Scappaticci's will should be sealed for 70 years, meaning that its contents will not be made public.
The judge said that this is the first time, except for members of the royal family, where a court has ordered that a will not be made open to public inspection in the way the document would usually be.
He said: "There is nothing in the will, which is in fairly standard form, which could conceivably be of interest to the public or the media."
A hearing to decide whether the will should be sealed was held on July 21 and was closed to the public and the media.
Barristers for the Attorney General, who represents the public interest in such matters, supported the will being sealed at the hearing in London , Sir Julian said.
The court heard that a man named Michael Johnson was prepared to represent Scappaticci's interests provided that the will was sealed.
Christopher Buckley , representing Mr Johnson, said that making Scappaticci's will publicly available would be "undesirable" and "inappropriate", and that Mr Johnson feared his life being put at risk if the will was made open to inspection.
Sir Julian said that there was "the need to protect (Mr Johnson) and those named in the will from the real risk of serious physical harm or even death because they might be thought to be guilty by association" with Scappaticci.
He said: "The real risk to his life and wellbeing which the deceased faced in his lifetime is amply demonstrated."
He continued: "Publication of the will would be both undesirable and inappropriate."
The judge concluded that holding the hearing in public would have "defeated the whole object" of the bid to have the will sealed.
Sir Julian said in his 18-page ruling that Scappaticci was alleged to have been a leading member of the Provisional IRA, and was part of the "Nutting Squad" from around 1980 until the mid-1990s, which interrogated suspected informers during the Troubles.
In 2003, media reports claimed that Scappaticci had spied on the IRA for the British government, and that while working for both organisations, "was responsible for the torture and murder of dozens of alleged IRA informers".
Scappaticci always denied the claim but failed in a legal bid to force the British government to publicly state that he was not Stakeknife, forcing him to move to England in 2003.
Sir Julian said: "He could not have remained in Northern Ireland , as he could have been killed by one side or the other.
"Even after he moved to England and changed his name, he continued to receive death threats.
"Such was their nature that he had to relocate at short notice several times over the years."
Operation Kenova was then launched to probe the activities of Stakeknife within the Provisional IRA and crimes such as murder and torture, as well as the role played by the security services.
Stakeknife is still ‘at the heart of Operation Kenova’
The probe, which was undertaken by Bedfordshire Police and cost tens of millions of pounds, reported its interim findings last year, after Scappaticci's death.
While it stopped short of naming him as Stakeknife, it found that more lives were probably lost than saved by the agent's actions.
The former Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police and author of the interim report, Jon Boutcher , said that the identity of Stakeknife "will have to be confirmed at some point" but that he would "have to leave this to my final report".
He said: "For now, it suffices to say that Mr Scappaticci was and still is inextricably bound up with and a critical person of interest at the heart of Operation Kenova."
He continued: "I believe that we found strong evidence of very serious criminality on the part of Mr Scappaticci and his prosecution would have been in the interests of victims, families and justice."
Prosecutors said at the time the interim report was published that the examination of files containing evidence of serious criminality by Scappaticci was at an advanced stage at the time of his death.
5K run in Colin Glen Forest Park ahead of National Hunger Strike commemoration
Conor McParland, Belfast Media, July 28, 2025
BEST FEET FORWARD: Sinn Féin reps with Michael Doherty, brother of hunger striker Kieran, ahead of the 5K run on August 24
The run is set take place in August to remember those who died on hunger strike during the conflict.
The National Hunger Strike Commemoration is due to take place in Belfast on Sunday August 24. The run will take place at 9am in Colin Glen Forest Park on the morning of the main commemoration.
West Belfast MLA Danny Baker said: “Republicans from across Ireland will gather in Belfast in August to pay tribute to those who died on hunger strike during the conflict, including the ten brave republicans who died in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh in 1981.
“The bravery and heroism of the hunger strikers set in motion a series of events that made political and social change unstoppable.
“As part of this year’s National Hunger Strike Commemoration Belfast is hosting a 5k commemorative run, taking place in Colin Glen Forest Park on the morning of the main commemoration.
“This special event is an opportunity to remember the courage and sacrifice of the hunger strikers, and their families, and to honour their legacy.”
The run has sold out.
Chapter Chat: Village set to host special day for annual Royal Black Fermanagh parade
Belfast News Letter, July 28th, 2025
The first Saturday in August is always a special date for the Co Fermanagh Grand Black Chapter.
It’s a day when the Royal Black Institution commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Newtownbutler, a significant victory for the Williamite forces in the summer of 1689.
This year, around 2,000 Sir Knights and band members will mark the event at a demonstration in the picturesque lakeland village of Derrygonnelly on August 2.
Hosted by Derrygonnelly Star of Freedom RBP 465, a total of 36 preceptories and a similar number of marching bands are scheduled to take part in the traditional parade.
Lisnaskea hosted last year’s Fermanagh demonstration.
The village, which last played host more than 50 years ago, will come alive to the sights and sounds of the pageantry and colour of the parade and music of the accordion, pipe, flute and silver bands.
Among the musical ensembles on parade will be Garrison Accordion, Enniskillen Pipe, Inver Flute and Maguiresbridge Silver bands.
Ballyreagh Silver Band, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, will lead the procession.
Worshipful Master of RBP 465 Glenn Gregg said: “Having last hosted the event in 1973, it is an honour to have the commemoration back in Derrygonnelly.”
Writing in the RBP booklet to mark the 2025 event, he extended “a warm welcome to all visiting sir knights from Co Fermanagh, the Republic of Ireland and from various parts of Northern Ireland, not forgetting their families and friends who will be joining us on the day”.
He added: “I have no doubt you will enjoy your day and be entertained by all the exceptional bands that will be on parade.
“We are very grateful for all the support of the local traders and businesses within the town and would ask that you support them in whatever way you can.”
County Grand Master Neville McElwaine says he has “no doubt” visitors to Derrygonnelly “will have an enjoyable and memorable day”.
In his message published in the booklet, he commended RBP 465 “for having the vision and dedication” in their planning of the commemoration.
“I am certain today will be another memorable chapter in the rich history of our great institution here in Co Fermanagh,” he said.
He urged members to “remain to hear the message of the gospel” at the religious proceedings on the day.
Sovereign Grand Master
Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson is looking forward to the event, where he will be the principal speaker on the platform at the demonstration field.
He said: “The Royal Black Institution has a long history and tradition in Fermanagh.
“This event draws together sir knights from the border counties of Fermanagh, Cavan, Monagan and Donegal, and I wish everyone a very successful day as they witness for the Reformed Christian Faith.
“I trust that as our banners float in the wind, and as the spectators gaze upon those brilliant paintings of Scriptural truths, that they will be encouraged to recognise their need of a Saviour.”
The commemoration has received funding from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and the dedicated charity this year is the Air Ambulance NI.
The commemoration booklet gives a brief history of Star of Freedom RBP 465, which was formed at a meeting in Derrygonnelly Orange Hall in July 1917.
It notes: “During its 108 years, the preceptory has always met on a regular basis, except for a period between 1939 and 1943, where there was no record of any meeting; this period being in the midst of the Second World War.”
The preceptory, with a membership of more than 70, says it is “very proud” of the number of young men in the ranks, six having joined at the May meeting.
The booklet features archive photographs and a report on the 1973 demonstration, courtesy of the Impartial Reporter.
Under the headline, ‘Cheers greet Eire’s Royal Blackmen’, the report said that “five Royal Black preceptories from Eire were given a rousing reception” at the demonstration in Derrygonnelly.
It added: “The march through the gaily decorated town, which was packed with visitors, was headed by Castlederg Apprentice Boys.
“The Eire Blackmen came next, at the head of 27 preceptories and their bands.
“The Cavan and Monaghan marchers were cheered and applauded as they walked through the streets lined with loyalists.”
It added that supporters from the two border counties were among the crowds of spectators on that August day five decades ago as the parade made its way “to a hill overlooking Derrygonnelly”.
Burial expert backs proposed release of private cemetery records, including mother and baby homes
By Donal McMahon, Belfast News Letter, July 28th, 2025
A burial expert has said that churches and institutions could be forced to surrender records on burials including those linked to mother and baby homes if new Stormont legislation is passed.
Belfast based, forensic archaeologist Toni Maguire spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week as a Private Members Bill in the Assembly looks to bring privately owned cemeteries in to line with council graveyards.
The burial expert who has researched grounds at Milltown in Belfast and Newry’s Marian Vale Mother and Baby Home has faced obstacles around missing documents.
Ms Maguire said: “One of the things that sticks out when you do the research is the extraordinary high number of infant deaths associated with institutions like mother and baby homes.
Over 10,000 women and girls
More than 10,000 women and girls from across the island of Ireland were sent to mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland from the 1920 to 1990s but incomplete records mean the figure may be higher.
The institutions were mainly run by the religious orders for unmarried mothers to have their babies in secret to avoid social scandal.
In Galway, work has begun to excavate a mass burial site at a mother and baby home run by the Bon Secours Sisters.
The revelations about the burial ground came to international attention when a local historian, Catherine Corless, discovered there were death certificates for 796 children and infants but no burial records.
Ms Maguire added: ”When I was at Marian Vale Mother and Baby Home in Newry we found a baptism register, which made very interesting reading.
“It also showed babies being adopted out of the jurisdiction. So, is the high death rate in mother and baby homes potentially cover for babies who were adopted out elsewhere?
“This is why it is so important to find the burials. If the records say a certain number of babies died and we can only find a lower number of burials, then where are the rest?” “The whole legislation that would come in from the PMB would impact the scenario of missing burial sites.
“There are living parents who have been told they are not allowed to mark the site of their baby’s burial from mother and baby homes, that must not be allowed to continue.”
Alliance MLA’s Bill
Alliance MLA, Nuala McAllister’s Burial Protections Bill launched this week was prompted by her own mother’s experience, as she believes three stillborn siblings were buried in unmarked graves in Milltown Cemetery in West Belfast.
Under current legislation, only cemeteries and burial grounds owned by councils are subject to conditions such as repair and maintenance of graves, registering and recording burials, and the right to place memorials.
If passed, the North Belfast member’s PMB would mean private bodies such as churches would have to follow the same regulations.
The PMB is supported by Ms Maguire, who says: “The new bill would protect all those buried in a private cemetery with proper maps showing the location of graves, better record keeping and the surrendering of those records currently held by the churches and religious organisations.”
BOXING: Young Palestinian boxers to arrive in West Belfast for special fundraiser
Richard Kennedy, Belfast Media, July 28th, 2025
ST Paul’s Boxing Club is hosting a special fundraising event as a team of five Palestinian boxers make the journey from the West Bank to West Belfast to fight against an Irish Select Team.
The bout in the Devenish on August 7 (7pm) celebrates both Irish and Palestinian culture and their unity through a shared resilience. Let's make this night a success and help to support the goal of raising vital funds. All proceeds from the event go towards supporting two important initiatives.
The overcrowded camp sits adjacent to the Israeli separation wall and is home to around 5,500 Palestinian refugees. The centre offers educational, cultural and sports programmes for young people growing up in harsh conditions and facing the daily challenges of life under occupation.
A few years ago, with the help of support in Ireland, the boxing programme was launched. Over 50 young athletes now train regularly, gaining discipline, confidence, and strength through the sport of boxing. The gym continues to thrive thanks to the commitment of local coaches and young people. West Belfast boxer Tyrone McKenna is currently visiting the gym and coaching the kids for on a three week programme.
The Beit Lahia Development Association; A grassroots organization providing humanitarian support and development programmes in Gaza. This community-based organisation focuses on education, child protection, food assistance, and trauma support. In light of the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the association is playing a crucial role in providing emergency aid to families in need. The funds raised will help support essential relief efforts, including food parcels, medical supplies, and mental health services for children affected by conflict.
Let’s come together through sport to make a difference. Join us for a night of action, culture, and compassion as we stand in solidarity with the children of Palestine, from the West Bank to Gaza. There are variety of tickets available from St Paul’s ABC, The Devenish Complex, John Mallon Stall (Kennedy Centre), Foodstock Andersonstown Road and professional boxer Tyrone McKenna. Limited tables available. For further information about tickets call 073 5296 0149.
