The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will fund a police investigation into murders allegedly committed by the IRA informant codenamed Stakeknife from its own budget.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton told MLAs in the Justice Committee that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, and the Department of Justice had said there would be no more money.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Barra McGrory QC, asked police to investigate Stakeknife’s alleged offences.

The investigation will be the largest ever in Northern Ireland into the activities of a single person.

It is expected to cost £35 million and take at least five years to complete.

Mr Hamilton has previously said he intends for detectives from other UK police forces to conduct the investigation.