MI5 had a bigger role in the handling of a spy who murdered at least 14 people while working at the heart of the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland than it had previously claimed.
The findings were revealed in the final report of Operation Kenova, a £40m police investigation into the Army agent known as Stakeknife.
The 160-page report stated MI5 was "closely involved", was regularly briefed and had sight of all Stakeknife intelligence. The security service had previously said its role was "peripheral".
MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum has offered sympathies "to the victims and families of those who were tortured or killed by the Provisional IRA's internal security unit during the Troubles".
The report, authored by former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone, found: "MI5 was involved in briefing and tasking Stakeknife via the (Army) throughout his operation as an agent."
