Cory reiterates call for immediate Finucane inquiry

Retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory has reiterated his call for an immediate public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Testifying before the US Congress in Washington, Judge Cory said he believed a public inquiry into the 1989 murder was necessary to restore public confidence in the rule of law in the North.

He said such an inquiry should take precedence over an outstanding criminal case relating to the Finucane killing.

Judge Cory said his investigation into alleged collusion in six murders found that Mr Finucane was a prime loyalist target for more than 10 years, yet no steps were taken to protect him.

Judge Cory was appointed by the Irish and British governments to investigate alleged official collusion in six murders carried out in the 1980s and 1990s.

He recommended public inquiries into five of the cases.

The Irish Government immediately announced plans to establish an inquiry into the one case that related to alleged Garda-IRA collusion and the British government followed suit some months later by saying inquiries would be held into the other four cases.

However, it said any inquiry into the Finucane murder would have to be delayed until the completion of a criminal prosecution relating to the case.

This has angered the Finucane family and their supporters, who have been campaigning for a public inquiry for some time.