Judge attacks proposed Finucane inquiry legislation

The Canadian judge who ordered a public inquiry into British state collusion in the murder of Pat Finucane has slammed London's plans to limit its scope and powers.

In a letter addressed to the head of a US Congressional Committee, Judge Peter Cory was scathingly critical of British plans to restrict the inquiry.

He described plans to redefine the powers of public inquiries as "an intolerable Alice in Wonderland situation."

He said the proposed new British legislation was unacceptable and that London had committed itself to an inquiry under the original 1921 Act.

His views were shared at the same Washington committee meeting by the US envoy to Ireland, Mitchell Reiss, who said public confidence required the inquiry to be independent and transparent.