The ghosts of the Irish Troubles continue to prowl with a report on the notorious British spy ‘Stakeknife’, believed to be the senior IRA member Freddie Scappaticci, who was the perpetrator of 14 murders and 15 abductions during the Troubles.
The nine-year investigation was critical of the Army and the Security Services (MI5), finding that more lives were probably lost than saved through the operation of Stakeknife, who “committed grotesque, serious crime” including torture and murder.
Colonel Tim Collins, a former British Army officer who served with the SAS and as commander of the Royal Irish Regiment during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, said agents such as Stakeknife helped prevent wider bloodshed. He said: “The report lays bare a catalogue of failures – operational, ethical and institutional – that cannot be ignored. But “the question is not whether agent-handling was perfect. It wasn’t. The question is whether it was necessary. And it was – because the alternative was far worse.”
The report stated MI5 was “closely involved in his handling”.
Freddie Scappaticci, 12 January 1946, Belfast born of Italian parents, who died in 2023, certainly had a chart hinting of the potential for abusive behaviour with a Capricorn Sun Venus opposition Saturn Mars in Cancer square an expansive Jupiter. Over-confident, hard-edged, short-fused with a penchant for the military and cruelty. Mars Saturn is the historical astrological signature for assassinations. He also had a Taurus Moon square Pluto which would do nothing to soften his approach.
What intrigues me is the chart for MI5 (the UK Security Services) founded 7 October 1909 which has a Cardinal Grand Cross of a Libra Sun Mercury opposition Saturn in Aries square Neptune in Cancer opposition Uranus. Cardinal Grand Crosses hint at a lifestyle of revolving crises, in this case involving subterfuge (Neptune) and fanaticism (Uranus Neptune).
Even more pointed, is a Mutable T square of Mars in Pisces opposition Jupiter square Pluto – Mars Pluto for danger, ruthlessness and determination plus Mars Jupiter for opportunism and impulsive actions, often marketed as moral. That T square is being undermined by tr Neptune Saturn in hard aspect in the final trudge through Pisces till early 2026. Which may not be a consequence of this report since they will have their hands full elsewhere with terrorists from various sources including Russia/China etc.
But what is eye-catching is the MI5 Mars in Pisces which is exactly conjunct Chariklo (= eternal suffering), Nessus (= lies and manipulation) and conjunct Eris, planet of discord, disruption and provocation as well as the unfortunate Scheat. All of which seem fitting. It is a formidable chart.
1909 with the same Fixed stars in place oversaw the laying of the Titanic hull – all four Fixed Stars were square Pluto. When it sank in 1912 the Fixed stars had moved to different positions but the late Pisces Moon was exactly conjunct Eris and within two degrees of Scheat, the shipwrecking Fixed star.
Intelligence agents are often recruited from the organisation that they wish to infiltrate. But even if they are not, they still have to fit in with the criminal elements, that make up this organisation. And give the impression that they share things like their politics and pastimes.
In many respects they behave like gangsters. And it is often a rite of passage, that in order to prove your loyalty, you will have to off somebody or at least hurt them rather badly. It is a mistake to assume, that these people behave like gentlemen and behave to a rigorous code of ethics.
I know that John Le Carre’ said that they had to behave within the constraints of the law. Which means that all evidence gathered has to be legally obtained.
Which is utter tripe! Especially when used to entrap politicians, industrialists, businessmen and celebrities to do their bidding. And that more often concerns the carnal side of things which unfortunately, more often than not, exploits children. So no moral high ground there! And all countries with intelligence agencies do this. And profit by it. Even Eire.
But back to the person concerned, when it comes to some organisations like this certain organisation, the person concerned would be obliged to do such things many times. So yes he probably did do the things they say. But that particular organisation was well known for doing these things anyway and not just in Northern Ireland but in the UK as a whole but also in Eire and along-side with other terrorist organisations that operated in other countries. Things which they aren’t being currently charged with, for any crimes. So it is a bit of the ‘pot calling the kettle black.’ And if you received training in Libya under the Ghadaffi regime, as members of this organisation were known to have done, then you can hardly complain that a British agent did horrible things, when the rest of the organisation were doing these things as well.
Another example being how the CIA operated during Vietnam or how they brought about the utter fiasco in the Bay of Pigs and in El Salvador. Nothing remotely nice about these people, and I don’t think any operative has been brought to book for their crimes. Yet we are expected to sell our own people out, and not go after the very people that sought the destruction and d3aths of our own people. So hypocrisy at its highest level.