← Back to House of Commons Debates
Northern Ireland Troubles Operation Kenova 2025-12-09
09 December 2025
Lead MP
Gavin Robinson
Debate Type
Urgent Question
Tags
Northern Ireland
Other Contributors: 17
At a Glance
Gavin Robinson raised concerns about northern ireland troubles operation kenova 2025-12-09 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Will the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland make a statement on the latest publication from Operation Kenova and the Government’s response to its findings?
Gavin Robinson
DUP
Belfast East
Question
Does Secretary of State welcome Kenova's finding that there was no high-level state collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and security forces? Does he recognise intelligence services' role in securing peace and the IRA being riven by informers? Does he realise absurdity of maintaining non-disclosure stance on Stakeknife identification? What does he think about findings regarding Dublin and Monaghan bombings?
Minister reply
I join hon. Gentleman recognising huge contribution made by intelligence services, Army, RUC during troubles to keep people safe and defeat terrorism. Responsibility for 1700 murders rests with Provisional IRA. Kenova report notes no high-level collusion but individual collusion was shocking. Regarding Dublin and Monaghan bombings, findings state UK authorities had no info or intel preventing those bombings.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Question
Given MI5's failure to disclose all relevant material timely as outlined in Kenova report, how can families have confidence in new disclosure process?
Minister reply
MI5 set up review process after discovering further files related to Stakeknife not previously identified. Current legacy Act allows Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to request and see all information, which will remain case under reformed legacy commission.
Alex Burghart
Con
Brentwood and Ongar
Question
How does Secretary of State view significant report findings on collusion and need not lose sight important findings?
Minister reply
Appreciate highly detailed Kenova report. Acknowledge legislation has changed significantly since period in question under both previous Labour and Conservative Governments. Important to highlight review found small number rogue actors but no evidence collusion occurred at political or strategic level, nor that RUC organisational level involved or complicit with extremists or terrorists.
Colum Eastwood
SDLP
Foyle
Question
Has the Secretary of State made an assessment of how many lives could have been saved if the British Government had acted properly in relation to historical collusion?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State has not made such an assessment but highlighted that Operation Kenova's view was that the balance between lives lost and lives saved was not as previously thought. He emphasised the importance of being open about what happened to ensure proper understanding.
Paul Kohler
LD
Wimbledon
Question
Does the Government accept Operation Kenova's findings of 'serious organisational failure' on the part of MI5, and if so, what concrete steps will they take to address these failures?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged that issues were identified in the past but noted that current legislation regulates covert human intelligence sources. He also highlighted the Bill’s provisions for safeguards related to former service personnel.
Mike Kane
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that, even on days when difficult revelations are made, victims and families should remain at the forefront of our thoughts?
Minister reply
The Minister agreed strongly with this sentiment and highlighted the importance of Operation Kenova’s approach to dealing with families, including establishing a victims and survivors advisory group as part of the current Bill.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that this particular operation was counterproductive in its own terms?
Minister reply
The Minister stated that the Intelligence and Security Committee may wish to look at the Operation Kenova report. He acknowledged the moral nightmare involved but highlighted the importance of such operations for national security.
Katrina Murray
Lab
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Question
How will the best experiences of Operation Kenova be built into the next stages of the legislation?
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted several measures, including an advisory committee for victims and survivors, a new oversight board, and changes to provisions related to disclosure, all aimed at ensuring confidence in the system.
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Question
Does the Secretary of State acknowledge the importance of independence in legacy investigations and suggest that judicial panel members should be appointed by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission rather than the Secretary of State?
Minister reply
Independence is indeed extremely important to building confidence among families. I note my hon. Friend’s point about the appointment of judicial panel members for the commission, particularly in respect of the inquisitorial proceedings.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Question
Given the extensive scrutiny directed at alleged agents within the UK establishment, what demands has the Secretary of State made of the Irish Government to disclose the extent and details of agents operating within the republican movement?
Minister reply
In light of what the hon. Member has said, I hope she would welcome the commitments that the Irish Government have given to cooperate fully with the new Legacy Commission.
Dorking and Horley
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that handling ethics around agents are incredibly complex but essential for protecting lives?
Minister reply
I do agree with the hon. Member. The security services do an outstanding job in saving lives today, but it is also important to learn from the past and what did not go right.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that it is now time for an inquiry to identify and hold to account those who directed terrorism and murder in Northern Ireland?
Minister reply
We have the commission established by the last Government, which has the capacity to investigate all cases. However, we need a single mechanism that gives confidence to families.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree with me that the First Minister of Northern Ireland can no longer remain ambiguous in her acknowledgment and apology for actions by her fellow travellers? Does he also accept that real state collusion occurred when successive Governments in the Irish Republic hid terrorists, allowed them to store arms, train and cross the border, and refused extradition?
Minister reply
I certainly intend to hold the Irish Government to account for commitments given. However, we need to focus on ensuring families get answers through a single mechanism.
Sarah Pochin
Reform
Runcorn and Helsby
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that there is a risk that findings from this report fail to fully recognise the contribution made by informants and agents inside the IRA in stopping countless killings?
Minister reply
It is important to take a balanced view, acknowledging successes and bravery while also recognising where things should not have happened.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that now is the time for leaders of the political republican movement to say unequivocally that what happened in the past was wrong and should not have happened?
Minister reply
We as a House are clear that violence was never justified. It is important to focus on the process leading to ceasefires, peace, and stability since the Good Friday agreement.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
What steps will be taken to ensure that the family members who are still alive and mourning Jimmy Young’s killing have access to as much information as legally possible and get some form of justice for his murder? I always ask for justice, and I am asking for justice for Jimmy Young and this family.
Minister reply
The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) always makes his contribution on matters such as finding answers for the families with real force and compassion. As he will be aware, Operation Kenova submitted a number of files to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland. In only one case has a prosecution been taken forward, and I referred to that in my reply to the right hon. Member for Belfast East. In other cases, the PPS decided there was not a basis for a prosecution. That is of course frustrating, but the independence of our prosecutorial system is an absolutely essential safeguard for all of us. It has to make a judgment that the two tests, of whether there is a reasonable prospect of a conviction and whether it is in the public interest to prosecute, are met. However, that does not mean that the family mentioned by the hon. Member for Strangford cannot still seek to get answers. That is what the commission is for: that is work it is undertaking currently and that it will do in the future, under the new arrangements that I hope the House will agree to put in place.
Government Response
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I inform the House that I will lay a written ministerial statement on this matter later today.
Operation Kenova has published its final report, which covers the activities of the alleged agent Stakeknife and other investigations referred to it by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The Kenova team led by Sir Iain Livingstone and Jon Boutcher did exemplary work in building trust with families and providing answers about what happened to their loved ones. Operation Turma, part of Kenova, resulted in the prosecution of an individual extradited from Ireland for the murder of three RUC officers.
Operation Kenova established no evidence of criminal offences by Stakeknife or their handlers at a high level. However, it found disturbing behavior and collusion between individuals and loyalist paramilitaries. The Government will respond to Denton report findings when published, considering ongoing legal proceedings. In August, the Government responded to Kenova's request for naming Stakeknife but noted pending litigation.
I commend reforms in agent handling practices over decades, now regulated by strict oversight bodies like the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Tribunal.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.