An intelligence officer who allegedly controlled the top British mole inside the IRA has been exposed, it emerged tonight.
He could now be forced into court by other former operatives who are threatening legal action against the IRA mole, named as Stakeknife, it was claimed.
A photograph of the man and his name have been posted on a US web site.
He is pictured with other members of the Force Research Unit, a covert British army intelligence wing that handled terrorist moles during the 30-year dirty war in Northern Ireland.
The FRU has been at the centre of an exhaustive inquiry by Britain's top police officer into alleged security force collusion with loyalist paramilitary killers.
Military authorities refused to comment on the internet claim, but a leading human rights campaigner said it was a significant development.
Ms Jane Winter, of the London-based British-Irish Rights Watch, said: "It's another piece of the jigsaw and another possible way into what went on.
"Everything FRU has done has been done in our name but we have never been allowed to know what's going on, make anyone accountable or ask anybody direct questions.
"Any information that comes to light that opens another avenue to pursue the truth has got to be significant."
Scotland Yard chief Sir John Stevens's latest report uncovered damning evidence that FRU and Royal Ulster Constabulary special branch officers collaborated in the murders of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane and Protestant teenager Adam Lambert.
Sir John and his team have now switched the focus of their 12-year inquiry to Stakeknife, who was named in press reports earlier this year as republican Freddie Scappaticci.
A spokeswoman for the Stevens team confirmed detectives knew about the Internet exposure but refused to comment further.
She said: "They are aware of what's on that web site in relation to that matter but they're not prepared to discuss it in any way."
PA