British govt to issue Finucane report next month

A British Government-ordered review into the loyalist murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane will be published on December 12.

Experienced QC Desmond de Silva re-examined the evidence into the shooting in north Belfast in 1989.

The murder of the Catholic father-of-three was one of the most controversial of the Northern Ireland Troubles, with allegations that the state colluded with the paramilitaries to facilitate the killing.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has accepted collusion took place and has apologised to the Finucane family.

But the solicitor’s relatives have been critical of the £1.5 million review ordered by Mr Cameron, claiming it falls long short of the full public inquiry they have long campaigned for.

Mr de Silva has said his report will included previously highly classified documents relating to the murder.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers outlined the timetable for publication today.

Mrs Villiers has previously said she intends to give advance sight of the review to interested parties, their legal representatives and some members of both houses of Parliament.