Finucane family urges judges to shun murder inquiry

The family of Patrick Finucane made a fresh appeal today to judges around the world not to sit on the public inquiry into the murder of the Belfast solicitor.

The plea came after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Irish Parliament that the British government had begun the search for a judge to chair an inquiry into the murder 17 years ago.

The Finucane family campaigned long and hard for a public inquiry into the murder by loyalist paramilitaries and allegations of security force collusion in it.

But they are opposed to the British government's decision to hold the inquiry under the controversial Inquiries Act which gives ministers the right to suppress full publication of the final report.

The Dáil recently united to voice its opposition to the form the British government has chosen for the inquiry and joined the Finucanes in urging the judiciary to have nothing to do with it.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil last night he understood from international connections the British government was having ``great difficulty'' finding a judge prepared to chair the inquiry.

Mr Finucane's son Michael, himself a lawyer, urged judges to stand firm. ``We have already asked them not to sit on the inquiry and I ask them again.''