Official title: The Stevens I Investigation and the prosecution of Brian Nelson
In brief
- The Army and RUC Special Branch deliberately obstructed Stevens I; senior Army officers lied to investigators.
What this chapter covers
Chapter 24 examines the first investigation led by Sir John Stevens, which began in September 1989, and the prosecution of Brian Nelson that followed.
Key findings
- De Silva found that the Army and RUC Special Branch deliberately obstructed the Stevens I investigation.
- He found that senior Army officers "deliberately lied to criminal investigators" about the Army's running of agents.
- The chapter examines leaks connected with the investigation and briefings that, the report found, gave a misleading picture of Nelson's role.
- It considers how Nelson's 1992 prosecution and plea were handled, including representations made on his behalf.
Why it matters
Obstruction of an investigation is a separate wrong from the original crime, and this chapter documents it in detail. It is the basis for some of the strongest language in the Prime Minister's statement on 12 December 2012. See also our guide to the Stevens 2003 overview.