Transparency urged in Finucane inquiry

The British government’s inquiry into the death of Pat Finucane must be transparent and have the necessary power to publish the full truth, it was warned tonight.

Mitchell Reiss, US Envoy to Northern Ireland, expressed concern that the new legislation governing inquiries could potentially reduce the independence and transparency of an investigation into the murder.

Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane was murdered in February 1989 and his family is still fighting for the truth surrounding allegations of British military and police collusion.

Mr Reiss told an ad hoc committee on Northern Ireland human rights in Washington that, if the forthcoming inquiry was to receive the confidence of the Irish people, the Inquiries Act currently being considered by British Parliament must have the power to reveal specific detail.

“Whatever legislative instrument is used, my concern is that the inquiry has the necessary legal powers to establish the truth of what happened in the Finucane case and that the process has the confidence of the people in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“The chair and other members of the inquiry should be fully satisfied that the terms of reference will provide them with the authority necessary to establish the truth and to examine thoroughly the allegations of collusion highlighted by Judge Cory.”

Judge Peter Cory’s conclusion that there was strong evidence of collusion by the British army, the RUC and the security service prompted the British government to accept the need for an inquiry.

But by concealing various names in order to protect compromising prosecutions, the British government has attracted widespread criticism.

“Public confidence requires as much transparency as possible, within the constraints of protecting lives and considerations of national security,” Mr Reiss added.

“Judge Cory’s report is eloquent on this point: ’Without public scrutiny, doubts based solely on myth and suspicion will linger long, fester and spread their malignant infection through the Northern Ireland community’.”

After gunman Ken Barrett confessed to the Finucane murder last September, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy announced that the British government would establish an inquiry but that it would be based on this new legislation.

The Finucane family, as well as several human rights groups, have raised concerns about the provisions of the proposed Inquiries Act. They fear that, as drafted, the legislation could reduce the inquiry’s chances of establishing the entire truth.