Finucane family in court move against British government

The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane were attempting today to force the British government through the courts to release a report into his controversial killing.

The Finucane family were going to Belfast High Court to seek a judicial review to force Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy to release a report by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory.

Mr Finucane was killed in controversial circumstances by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters in February 1989.

Mr Finucane’s widow Geraldine confirmed a member of her family had been contacted by the judge who was appointed by the British and Irish governments to look into whether there should be inquiries into six controversial killings.

She said the judge had told the family that he had recommended an inquiry into Mr Finucane’s murder which has been dogged by claims that members of the security forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries.

It is also understood that Judge Cory contacted the families of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, who was blown up in a car bomb attack in the driveway of her home in March 1999, Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill, who was kicked to death by a loyalist mob in May 1997, and Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright, who was gunned down by the INLA in the Maze Prison in December 1997.

Sources said the judge has also recommended inquiries in these three cases.

Mrs Finucane said they were going to court because the Irish government had already released reports into two other cases which Judge Cory looked at.

“As far as we are concerned Judge Cory was appointed under a binding agreement involving both British and Irish governments at Weston Park,” she said.

“The Irish Government published their two reports, but the British government has still not released theirs.

“They just made a sweeping statement saying they were looking into the legal and security implications of releasing the report.

“However, as far as we are concerned they should be released now. There should be no delay – end of story.”

The Irish Government decided to hold an inquiry into the killing of RUC Superintendent Bob Buchanan and Chief Superintendent Harry Breen who were gunned down by the IRA after a security meeting with their counterparts in the Irish Republic.

Judge Cory probed allegations of garda collusion in the killings of their Northern Ireland counterparts in March 1989, as they returned from a meeting in Dundalk over the Irish border.

The judge also probed allegations of garda collusion in the killings of Lord Maurice Gibson and his wife Lady Cecily as they crossed the border in April 1987.

Lord Gibson, who was one of Northern Ireland’s most senior judges, and his wife, died when a 500lb IRA landmine detonated at Killeen as they returned from holiday.

An inquiry into alleged collusion will not, however, be held following Judge Cory’s report.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman has said the British government’s position on the Finucane, Nelson, Hamill and Wright cases remain the same.

“As the prime minister said we will publish as soon as the legal process has been completed,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly also demanded the publication of the four Cory reports.

The North Belfast MLA said: “British governments have to honour public commitments they gave to abide by Cory’s findings.

“They have to release the reports.”

Nationalist SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood supported the Finucane family’s call for the report to be published by the British government.

The West Belfast MLA said: “With confirmation that Judge Cory has recommended inquiries, Tony Blair must fulfil his personal and political undertaking to accept the judge’s recommendations. The British government’s response thus far has created delay and doubt, and there is no further excuse for any further uncertainty.”