Independent judge appointed to probe Northern murders

The Irish and British Governments have announced that a Canadian judge has been appointed to investigate whether independent inquiries should be established into six controversial killings in the North.

The judge, Peter Cory, will investigate whether sufficient evidence exists to justify public inquiries into the deaths.

The cases in question are the murders of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill, LVF leader Billy Wright and the IRA murders of Lord Justice and Lady Gibson and two RUC superintendents.

RUC or garda collusion is suspected in all six cases.