The British Prime Minister has promised the truth about the killing of Pat Finucane will be uncovered.
Mr Tony Blair vowed he would get to the bottom of the collusion controversy amid a chorus of demands for a full public inquiry. These calls will be resisted for the moment by Downing Street.
With the efforts of retired Canadian judge Mr Peter Cory to assess the evidence in the case barely under way, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Irish Government have joined the Finucane family's demand for a wider investigation.
However, Mr Blair said yesterday he awaited the recommendation of Mr Cory and publication of the Stevens report.
"Mr Justice Cory has been appointed as the judge, a highly respected international judge, who will decide what is the best way to proceed. We are determined to get to the bottom of these issues and lay them to rest," he said.
With a further Panorama report on alleged collusion between the North's security forces and loyalist paramilitaries to be broadcast on Sunday with fresh revelations, there were calls yesterday for judgment on the issue to be reserved until Sir John Stevens issues his report to the Policing Board next month.
The board's chairman, Prof Desmond Rea, said: "Given the very serious nature of the allegations made, I consider it entirely inappropriate to comment or form any judgments until the full report has been presented."
The First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said he found the BBC programme "somewhat sensationalist" and argued that a rush to judgment was not appropriate at this stage.
However, the Deputy First Minister said it was time for a full public inquiry. Mr Mark Durkan said: "The stench of collusion is now so overwhelming that it is impossible to justify resisting a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane."
The Committee on the Administration of Justice agreed. "These allegations strike at the very heart of the rule of law," said Mr Paul Mageean, the body's legal officer.
Sinn Féin continued to claim Mr Blair was running away from an inquiry. Mr Alex Maskey, who was himself targeted by the UDA, said loyalist collusion was a policy sanctioned at the highest level.
Mr Denis Bradley, the Policing Board deputy chairman, yesterday referred to other possible outcomes from the Stevens report, apart from a public inquiry.
He said the Police Ombudsman's office had the power to investigate wrongdoing by security force members.
"There was an implication in the Panorama programme that some 29 people may have died as a result of some relationship between FRU [army intelligence] and loyalist paramilitaries. I think this pushes out into the open again the possibility of some kind of truth and reconciliation commission. It depends on the detail."