Family of suspected loyalist feud victim launch new legal action in wake of 'Stakeknife' report

Glenn Greer, 28, was killed in a car bomb attack in Bangor, Co Down back in October 1997.

His death is believed to have been part of a drugs-related dispute between rival loyalist factions, according to reports at the time.

Separate allegations that he was targeted for being a suspected police Special Branch informer have always been strongly denied by his family.

In 2024 lawyers representing the murder victim’s family wrote to the PSNI seeking confirmation that he was not an agent.

The request was made in an attempt to end the speculation he had worked for the security forces.

An initial judicial review challenge was mounted when police maintained its blanket policy of neither confirming nor denying (NCND) the identity of any agents.

Those proceedings were withdrawn after the PSNI agreed to reconsider its decision in her case.

But 14 months later, the family’s legal team alleged an ongoing delay in receiving any meaningful response.

A fresh challenge has now been issued against the Chief Constable at the High Court in Belfast, claiming a failure to abide by a public law duty to act with reasonable expedition.

Proceedings were lodged just days after the publication of the Operation Kenova report into the activities of agent Stakeknife, the MI5 spy at the heart of the IRA widely known to have been west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci.

In that case the Kenova investigation team, previously led by current PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, urged the UK Government to depart from NCND and publicly name the agent.

Belfast firm KRW Law, who represent the Greer family, predicted the new legal action will seek to hold the police to account over the controversial policy.

Solicitor Owen Winters said: “This challenge comes immediately after the Chief Constable’s public comments on NCND.

“While he acknowledged the need for a more nuanced and proportionate application of the policy, the reality is that families like the Greers are still being left in limbo.

“This case is a chance for the PSNI to demonstrate leadership, depart from rigid dogma, and show that transparency and accountability can coexist with genuine security concerns.”

A statement on behalf of the family stressed that they withdrew the last case in good faith hoping for progress.

“Instead, we’ve waited over a year with no meaningful response,” the statement added.

“To say it’s deeply frustrating is an understatement.

“We never wanted to be back in court, but we’ve been left with no choice if we are to get answers and try to move on with our lives.”