The head of an investigation into allegations that a British spy at the heart of the IRA was involved in murders, has written to families of the victims apologising for a delay in providing detailed written reports into what happened to their loved ones.
Operation Kenova investigated claims that an army agent codenamed Stakeknife - widely believed to be Belfast republican Freddie Scappaticci - had been responsible for a series of crimes, including murder, while working for British intelligence.
The investigation covered 101 murders and abductions.
Operation Kenova issued its preliminary report last March.
It found Stakeknife's actions had probably cost more lives than his information had saved.
Scappaticci died in 2023 aged 77. The Public Prosecution Service was considering whether to charge him at the time of his death.
He was a senior figure in an IRA security unit, known as the Nutting Squad, whose job it was to hunt down informers in the ranks.
The report did not name Stakeknife due to the UK government's long-standing policy of Neither Confirm nor Deny when it comes to the identity of agents.
Ahead of the publication of its final report, Operation Kenova was meant to issue detailed written reports to families of Stakeknife's victims.
Now the head of Operation Kenvoa has written to them to apologise for a delay in the issuing of those reports.
Iain Livingstone said the reports had been passed to the UK government for security clearance between August and October last year.
He was told that checking would be delayed until after a decision had been made on lifting restrictions on naming Stakeknife in his final report - something Operation Kenova had recommended.
The Kenova team met with the UK government last week to discuss issuing of the family reports without revealing Stakeknife's identity.
In Mr Livingstone's letter to families he said: "In an effort to move matters forward, I suggested that the family reports should be security checked on the assumption that Stakeknife would not be named. If ministers subsequently decide that he could be named, I would then update you and your family report accordingly.
"In addition, I offered to brief ministers personally, on behalf of Kenova and the families, to ensure ministers had a full understanding of Kenova’s position and why in this case we believe there should be a departure from the Neither Confirm nor Deny policy so that Stakeknife can be named."
He added: "It is deeply regretful that the security checking process for the family reports has taken so long. I hope that the personal briefings you received on your particular case last year gave you as much information as we were able to provide.
"I also hope this update explains the frustrating delays we have encountered and underlines that the Kenova team has being working hard to get the written family report to you as soon as possible."
