Cory reiterates call for Finucane inquiry

Canadian judge Peter Cory today reiterated his call for a public inquiry to be held into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Speaking just days after his report into four controversial killings during the Troubles was published, he said he was “disappointed” that a trial had been deemed more important than further investigations.

In light of the report, the British government is to press ahead with inquiries into the murders of loyalist terror boss Billy Wright, Catholic father of two Robert Hamill and human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson.

But an inquiry into Mr Finucane’s death has been delayed to allow for criminal prosecutions to be completed.

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

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

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

Judge Cory repeated his belief that this case was one of the “rare occasions” where it was more important to hold a public inquiry than a trial.

“I am disappointed,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that the decision has been made that the public inquiry must be delayed.

“I would have thought that, in light of the manner in which terrorist trials are held, that is to say, judge alone, they could proceed at the same time at the very least.”

He said a judge would not be worried or influenced by an inquiry and vice versa.

“There are different standards, different rules, so many things that would make it completely separate,” he told RTE Radio.

“For the family, the murder was so long ago I just thought there should be some final resolution with regard to it as soon as possible.

“This is one of those rare instances where it’s more important to have the public inquiry for the good of the community as a whole, than the prosecution.”

The judge insisted the evidence he had seen warranted a public inquiry and that, as he understood it, both the British and Irish governments had agreed to implement his recommendations.

He dismissed suggestions made by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble that Mr Finucane had a special relationship with the IRA.

“At the coroner’s inquest, the RUC officer in charge of the investigation made it clear there was no tie that he knew of between Patrick Finucane and the IRA and that he was simply a solicitor doing his duty,” he said.

“That would seem to be quite clear and strong evidence.”

In his report, published last Thursday, the retired judge said evidence he had considered from a mass of official documents “clearly indicated” strong evidence of collusion by the British army, the RUC Special Branch and the Security Service, and that only a public inquiry would suffice.

“Without proper scrutiny, doubts based solely on myth and suspicion will linger long, fester and spread their malignant infection throughout the Northern Ireland community,” he said.

Since the report’s publication, Mr Finucane’s family and the Irish Government have called for a public inquiry to be established immediately.