Government backs calls for Finucane public probe

THE Government supported demands last night for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane after an investigation found collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces.

The challenge to British Prime Minister Tony Blair by the Belfast solicitor’s family to honour a pledge to hold a public inquiry was backed by Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen.

Rogue elements within the police and army in Northern Ireland helped loyalist paramilitaries to murder Catholics in the late 1980s, the report by Britain’s most senior police officer concluded.

Mr Finucane’s widow, Geraldine, threw down the gauntlet to Mr Blair after the investigation by London Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Stevens claimed members of the security forces colluded with the Ulster Defence Association in killing the Catholic solicitor in his north Belfast home in February 1989.

“When I met Tony Blair in 2000 he told me that if he thought members of the security forces had been involved in killings of this nature he would call a public inquiry.

“The most senior police officer in Britain has now found that there was collusion in my husband’s murder. It is now time for Tony Blair to fulfil his promise,” she said.

Mr Cowen said the findings were of the upmost gravity and it was particularly disturbing that nationalists were known to be targeted but were not properly protected.

“It remains the firm view of the Government that a public inquiry is required to resolve these issues. That conviction has been reinforced by the report published today,” Mr Cowen said.

The report into collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries also found that military intelligence in Northern Ireland helped to prolong the Troubles.

Informants and agents were allowed operate without effective control and to participate in terrorist crimes, the report said.

The key findings of the latest report, called Stevens Three, were that:

* Actions or omissions by security forces led to deaths of innocent people.

* Murders of Mr Finucane and student Adam Lambert could have been prevented.

* Collusion in murders of Mr Finucane and Mr Lambert.

* Government minister was compromised in House of Commons.

* Three official inquiries wilfully obstructed and misled.

The Finucane family’s call for an independent inquiry was backed by the SDLP, Sinn Féin and human rights organisations.

Last night, the Law Society of Ireland reiterated its call for an independent probe. Director general Ken Murphy said the murder of a solicitor for doing his duty in defending his clients was an attack on the rule of law and the rights of every citizen,

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said the report raised very disturbing issues. But the question of whether there should be a public inquiry was being examined by retired Canadian Supreme Court Judge Peter Cory who was also looking into five other controversial killings during the Troubles, he said. Judge Cory is due to report in the autumn.