Bush to urge public inquiry into Finucane murder

US PRESIDENT George W Bush is to raise the issue of a full public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at an early date.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern confirmed this yesterday in Washington following the traditional St Patrick's Day ceremony in the White House.

Mr Ahern had an hour-long private meeting with President Bush following the shamrock ceremony in the Roosevelt Room.

Canadian Supreme Court Judge Peter Cory has investigated Mr Finucane's murder and called for a full sworn public inquiry.

But the British Government has refused this and is instead passing legislation through the Houses of Parliament that would allow a British minister investigate the murder and this inquiry would be limited in the evidence it would hear.

"I have asked the president to raise that issue with Mr Blair at an early date because it is an issue that cannot be swept under the carpet. It is important to us to see that justice is done in every way and this is an outstanding issue since 1989," Mr Ahern told reporters. The Taoiseach said that he and Tony Blair are good friends and made an agreement in Weston Park in 2001 that Judge Cory would carry out an investigation and whatever that report stated would be implemented.

"We made and agreement and a judge of very high reputation in the United States came to a judgment it is now a question that a deal is a deal, and this was a deal and it is not going to be swept under the carpet," he added.

Mr Ahern said the Cory Report was discussed at the US Congressional Committee on Northern Ireland and Human Rights yesterday and it has also demanded a full sworn public inquiry. The Taoiseach said the Pat Finucane murder did not happen under British Prime Minister Tony Blair's watch. "But we believe it will be brought to an end in the watch of Tony Blair," he added. Mr Ahern said President Bush understands the significance of what happened and it is important that it is clarified and that people see justice.

"It cannot be fudged and that is why I am raising it here for Geraldine Finucane and the family," the Taoiseach said.

Pat Finucane's widow, Geraldine, was among the delegation of Northern community representatives that met President Bush in the White House yesterday.

Mrs Finucane was also a special guest at the prestigious social event, the American Ireland Fund dinner on Wednesday night.