The man at the centre of the "Stakeknife" allegations has been granted leave by Belfast High Court for a judicial review of the British government's refusal to comment on the matter.
It was alleged in newspaper reports quoting unnamed sources that Mr Freddie Scappaticci was the British Army's double agent "Stakeknife", who had infiltrated the IRA.Mr Scappaticci (57) strongly denies the claims.Sinn Féin has publicly backedMr Scappaticci's denials and accused faceless members of the security services of trying to wreck the peace process.
Amid fears that Mr Scappaticci's life is in danger, a judge this morning ruled he could proceedwith his bid to make security minister Ms Jane Kennedy break her silence.
The British government has refused to comment on the allegations, stressing that it never speaks publicly about intelligence matters.
But after hearing arguments by lawyers for Mr Scappaticci and the Northern Ireland Office, Mr Justice Kerr ruled that the judicial review application aimed at forcing Ms Kennedy to give her assessment should go ahead.
"I am satisfied that it is at least arguable that the applicant's life is in real and immediate danger as a result of the disclosures that have been made about him in the press," he said. "The history of the murders of informers or suspected informers by paramilitary organisations is too well known and documented to allow any other conclusion."
Mr Justice Kerr said: "The manner in which the government reacts to the demand by one of its citizens to have a statement made that might enhance his safety, or at least reduce the threat to his life, is a matter of acute publicinterest.
"It cannot be said, therefore, that the applicant has failed to raise an arguable case that it's reasonable to require the minister to make the statement that he seeks".