Blair rejects calls for immediate Finucane inquiry

Calls for an immediate public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane were rejected by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, today.

Mr Blair stuck to his insistence that all criminal proceedings must be concluded before a probe can be launched despite mounting pressure to speed the inquiry.

Former SDLP leader John Hume demanded swifter action when he raised the issue at Commons question time.

He asked: “Following the death of Pat Finucane and the enormous suffering of his family and given their consistent request for a public inquiry, do you agree that the time has now come for such an inquiry?”

The British government promised to hold any inquiry recommended by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who was asked to investigate claims of security service collusion in four high-profile killings.

But when his report was published, Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy said Mr Finucane’s death would only be investigated after a prosecution was concluded.

Mr Blair replied to the question: “We have announced inquiries into certain of these cases. We stand by the commitments that we gave at Weston Park.

“There are inquiries proceeding now because of the prosecution in respect of Finucane. We believe it is important that that is taken through its proper process.”

In one of the most controversial killings during the Troubles, Pat Finucane was hit 14 times when gunmen opened fire on him in his north Belfast home in February 1989 as he ate an evening meal with his family.