Dublin reaction: The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed disappointment yesterday with the British decision to delay action on Judge Peter Cory's recommendation that there be a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.
Both men yesterday welcomed the publication by the British government of the judge's reports on the murders of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright.
Mr Ahern said the content of the reports "gives rise to very serious concerns about the rule of law". It was therefore important that the British government had announced public inquiries in regard to three of the cases.
However, the decision to delay an inquiry into the Finucane case, on the grounds that a murder prosecution is under way, "conflicts with the views of Judge Cory that a public inquiry is more important in this case than prosecutions. I am deeply conscious of the impact that this postponement will have on Geraldine Finucane and her family who have been waiting for the truth since the murder of Pat Finucane in 1989."
Mr Cowen also welcomed the publication of the reports and the decision to proceed with three public inquiries.
"The content of these reports raises very troubling questions about the rule of law in Northern Ireland. The inquiries flowing from these reports are the appropriate way in which to determine what happened and to make recommendations to ensure that these events could not be repeated", he said.
Mr Cowen referred to Judge Cory's conclusion that the greater benefit to society would come from public inquiries rather than prosecutions. He agreed with the judge's view that "this may be one of those rare situations where a public inquiry will be of greater benefit to the community than prosecutions".
He said the Finucane family had called for a public inquiry for over 14 years. "Like the other three families involved, they want and are entitled to see the timely establishment of in- quiries into all of the cases, in full accordance with the commitments made by the two governments at Weston Park in August 2001. That is the only way to honour the commitments given at Weston Park."
He paid tribute to "Judge Cory's commitment to the difficult task we set him. He completed his task with expedition and his reports are, despite the reactions, eloquent and lucid. His commitment to the principles that must govern society, his wisdom, professionalism and innate humanity are evident from the content of his reports."
Sinn Féin's Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the reports came a day after the report of the Oireachtas sub-committee examining the Barron Report.
They provide "further confirmation of the extent of collusion by the British government in the murders of Irish citizens. Both governments must now act without delay on these reports."
He said the Irish Government must set up the investigations into missing files in this jurisdiction and into the inadequacy of the Garda handling of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. The British must set up the public inquiries on the Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson murders as recommended by Cory.