Public inquiries ordered into 'collusion' murder cases

The British government is to press ahead with inquiries into three controversial killings, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said today.

Public inquiries are to be set up immediately into the murders of loyalist terror boss Billy Wright, Catholic father of two Robert Hamill and human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson.

An inquiry into the fourth and most controversial case of all, the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, will get under way once criminal prosecutions finish later this year.

There have been allegations of security force collusion in all the cases.

The announcement follows an investigation by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who was asked by the British government to investigate the case for inquiries following demands by the victims’ relatives.

Mr Murphy confirmed the inquiries would have the full powers of the High Court to compel witnesses and papers – the same as the Bloody Sunday Tribunal headed by Lord Saville into the shootings of 13 people by British paratroopers in Londonderry in January 1972.

The Saville Inquiry is expected to cost £155m (€232.7m) but Mr Murphy said today reasonable steps would be taken to control the costs of the new investigations.

He told MPs the inquiries would have the maximum powers for better and quicker investigations.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said Judge Cory’s report raised serious questions.

“I am under no illusions that confronting the past is a difficult and painful process.

“The (British) government and its agencies are ready to play their part. We need to find a way of remembering the past while at the same time not allowing it to hinder progress in the future.

“Northern Ireland needs greater reconciliation between the communities. That is where all our attention needs to be dictated. We should ensure that we do not concentrate on divisive issues from the past at the expense of securing this.”

Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in his north Belfast home in February 1989.

A West Belfast loyalist and alleged security force agent is due to stand trial in September.

Mrs Nelson died in March 1999 when a loyalist bomb detonated under her car outside her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

Mr Hamill died in hospital 12 days after he was kicked and beaten by a loyalist mob in Portadown town centre in April 1997.

Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Wright was gunned down in a prison van at the high security Maze prison by the Irish National Liberation Army in December 1999.

Diane Hamill, sister of Robert Hamill, said her family was pleased the Government would act on Judge Cory's recommendation.

“For the last seven years this is all we have tried to get from the night that my brother was attacked and allowed to be murdered,” she said.

“That is all we have ever asked.

“Judge Cory, a man of great integrity, has obviously agreed with us after his exhaustive research and now the British Government has acknowledged the need to establish one.”