US honour Blair's role in peace process

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was being honoured in the US today for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

He is this year’s recipient of the annual award of the American Ireland Fund, which is being presented at a gala dinner in Washington.

Mr Blair is not in the States and the award will be accepted on his behalf by Ulster Secretary Paul Murphy.

Mr Murphy is in Washington along with most of the Northern Ireland political leaders for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations tomorrow, during which they will attend a series of meetings, lunches and dinners.

President George W Bush is expected to use his White House reception to pressure Sinn Féin by backing British government calls on republicans to support the new policing structures put in place in Northern Ireland.

He is also expected to make a fresh call for an end to all paramilitary activity by both the IRA and loyalist groups.

The award being given to Mr Blair has previously been won by former US President Bill Clinton, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and ex-SDLP leader John Hume, MP.

Mr Murphy should avoid protests by human rights activists at the dinner following the announcement yesterday that the UK government is poised to finally publish reports into four controversial murders in Northern Ireland, in which security force collusion has been alleged.

The UK government confirmed the reports by retired Canadian Supreme Court judge Peter Cory, which they have kept under wraps since receiving them last October, will be published by the end of the month.

It is known that Judge Cory has recommended public inquiries into the deaths of all four on the grounds there is sufficient suspicion of collusion.

The murders were:

:: The loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters killing of Belfast lawyer, Pat Finucane at his north Belfast home in 1989.

:: The brutal beating to death of Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill in the town in 1997.

:: The shooting of Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright in the high security Maze Prison by Irish National Liberation Army in 1997.

:: The blowing up of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, who was killed by a booby trap bomb under her car as she drove away from her home in 1999.