The British government has announced that a judge of international standing is to begin a fresh investigation into the murder of Belfast solicitor Mr Patrick Finucane and other controversial killings.
The move came yesterday after the case against the man charged with Mr Finucane's murder 12 years ago, Mr William Stobie, collapsed when the prosecution said it would not be calling its key witness, Mr Neil Mulholland.
The appointment of a judge to investigate allegations of security force collusion in loyalist murders was agreed at the Weston Park peace process talks in the summer involving the North's political parties and the two governments.
The NIO said it was "standing by its commitment" to appoint an international judge to investigate the murder of Mr Finucane and that he would start "no later than April 2002".
However, a spokesman said the Stevens team was continuing its investigation into the murder. If that resulted in further criminal proceedings, the judge, once appointed, would not begin his investigation until they were completed if there was a chance of prejudicing the proceedings.
The judge will investigate killings on both sides of the Border and, if he recommends a public inquiry, whichever government is responsible will set one up, the NIO spokesman.
In a statement the Finucane family said: "The appointment of a judge to review the evidence surrounding the circumstances of Pat's murder will delay a public inquiry for another four to five years since it has been proposed that the judge will review the evidence of half a dozen complicated cases.
"The appointment of a judge is another delaying tactic. Justice demands that Tony Blair announce the establishment of a public inquiry now."
Sinn FΘin president Mr Gerry Adams said: "Sinn FΘin supports the family in their demand for a full public judicial inquiry."
SDLP policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood said there had to be an independent judicial inquiry.
Mr Finucane was shot in 1989 at his home.