A new investigative series from the production team behind ‘Where Is George Gibney?’
This new series will focus on another figure who lived a double life and was eventually forced to live under cover. And it’s a story, like the George Gibney one, that many would prefer was never told.
So, from this point on, this feed will be renamed ‘Cover.’ Series 1 one of which was ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and series 2 is Stakeknife.
In Northern Ireland from 1978 to 1994, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers; people accused of passing information to the police and the British Army. But the man who often found, tortured, and sometimes killed these men and women was himself an informer, a secret British Army Agent with the codename Stakeknife.
Using secret recordings, reporter Mark Horgan traces the astonishing double life of Freddie Scappaticci. Why was he protected? How did he walk the tightrope between the IRA and British Army intelligence for so long and when murders, often of entirely innocent people, were sometimes allowed to take place despite state security force surveillance, who gets to play God?
This series is about far more than just one man; it’s about the state structures that protected him. From the production team behind the international award-winning ‘Where Is George Gibney?’, Stakeknife tells the story of one of the most-contested and darkest episodes of the Troubles. When neither side wants the story of Stakeknife to come out, how does society try to reconcile the truth about what happened?
You can continue to contact our production team about either series via our new email cover@bbc.co.uk and rest assured, any significant future movements in the story of George Gibney will also be covered right here. Talk to you again next week.
Mark meets two former members of the FRU, the secret army intelligence unit that ran the agent Stakeknife. How did they recruit people? How was Scappaticci recruited? Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Paddy Fee Editing and Sound Design: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Lankum Artwork by Conor Merriman Assistant Commissioners for BBC: Lorraine Okuefuna and Sarah Green. Commissioning ...
Dec 06, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Mark speaks to the brother of one of the first people interrogated by Stakeknife. We follow Seamus’ journey as he retraces his brothers steps in the days before he was murdered. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Paddy Fee Editing and Sound Design: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Lankum Artwork by Conor Merriman Assistant Commissioners for BBC: Lorraine Okuefuna and Sarah Green. Com...
Nov 29, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast
A man flees Northern Ireland when he’s named as Stakeknife. At a surprise press conference a few days later he denies the charges but a forgotten tape comes back to haunt him. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Paddy Fee Editing and Sound Design: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Lankum Artwork by Conor Merriman Assistant Commissioners for BBC: Lorraine Okuefuna and Sarah Green. Commi...
Nov 22, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast
In Northern Ireland from 1978 to 1994, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers; people accused of passing information to the police and the British Army. But the man who often found, tortured, and sometimes killed these men and women was himself an informer, a secret British Army Agent with the codename Stakeknife. Using secret recordings, reporter Mark Horgan traces the astonishing double life of Freddie Scappaticci. Why was he protected? How did he walk the tightrope between the IRA and Briti...
Nov 12, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast
A message from Mark Horgan on a new investigative series launching next week from the production team behind ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ This new series will focus on another figure who lived a double life and was eventually forced to live under cover. And it’s a story, like the George Gibney one, that many would prefer was never told. So from this point on, this feed will be renamed ‘Cover.’ Series 1 one of which was ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and series 2 is coming next week, first thing on Tuesd...
Nov 08, 2024•59 sec•Transcript available on Metacast
Almost three years on from our last episode, there’s a significant update on the case of George Gibney. We also hear from contributors to the podcast series speaking publicly at an emotional event in the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan, Ciaran Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Mark Horgan Composer: Michael Fleming Theme tune: Aaron Dessner Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Wher...
Nov 24, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast
As a police investigation into Gibney is confirmed, survivors around the world begin to talk. A significant voice in the story of George Gibney comes forward. -- Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Caroline’s letter is voiced by Clare Monnelly Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan...
Dec 10, 2020•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Survivors continue to come forward for the first time and a new voice emerges from Waterford. We tell the story of Loraine Kennedy with some help from her daughter, Louise. -- Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: J...
Dec 03, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast
As our journey in the US comes to an end, it’s time to talk to George Gibney. But he hasn’t left his house in days and we don’t know why. Time is running out. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps Where...
Oct 15, 2020•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast
We discover new information on Gibney’s life today and investigate his religious and coaching links. A Hall of Fame coach speaks publicly about his mentor for the first time. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Ja...
Oct 08, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast
We learn of another abuse allegation involving Gibney, this time in Florida. A gifted former swimmer called ‘Susan’ is no longer well enough to talk to us. Her sister tells her story. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning E...
Oct 01, 2020•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast
As more abusers face justice, we knock on doors across the US to understand Gibney’s path. Former colleagues talk about the popular co-worker and volunteer they called ‘John’. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: J...
Sep 24, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast
As Gibney’s new life in the UK begins, a groundbreaking news article starts to take shape. The public are still unaware of Gibney’s past but this story could change that forever. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor...
Sep 17, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Two people who work closely with Gibney believe very different things about their boss. Meanwhile, Mark and Cass continue observing the former coach. But who is observing them? Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: ...
Sep 10, 2020•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast
It seems like time is up for George Gibney as Gary O’Toole goes on a mission to find more swimmers who may have been abused by the coach. Credits: Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps Where is George Gibney? is a...
Sep 03, 2020•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast
It’s 5am, it’s dark. We’re in a car outside a house where we think the former celebrity coach now lives. The neighbourhood gets suspicious. A garage door opens… Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps Whe...
Aug 27, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast
A famous Olympic coach charged with child sexual abuse never stood trial. Instead, he vanished. Reporter Mark Horgan travels across Ireland, the UK and the US on his trail. Credits Reporter: Mark Horgan Produced and written by: Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy Co-Producer: Maria Horgan Research and fact checking: Killian Down Editing: Ciarán Cassidy Composer: Michael Fleming Sound mixing: Ger McDonnell Theme tune by Aaron Dessner Executive Producer for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jaso...
Aug 13, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast