The British government is set to make a final decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into security force links to the murder of Northern Ireland solicitor Pat Finucane, it was announced today.
Police investigations have already found evidence of collusion in the infamous killing carried out by the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in Belfast in 1989.
But while a full public inquiry was promised by government in 2004 as part of the developing peace process, the Finucane family has since said new legislation on inquiries robs them of true independence.
Secretary of State Owen Paterson said he had met with the Finucane family earlier this week and now planned to spend two months considering the case before making a decision on whether or not to hold an inquiry.
“I believe it is right that I should determine the way forward in this case and that consequently I should set out a clear decision making process both to
the House and to the Finucane family,” he said in a ministerial statement released at Westminster.
“I met the family on the 8th November to listen to their views and I have written to them formally inviting their representations as to whether it is in the public interest that I should establish a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.
“I will consider those representations carefully and in detail, along with any other relevant representations that I receive over the next two months, before deciding this question.
“In addition to considering representations on the case, I shall also need to take into account a broad range of other factors in determining what the public interest requires.”
PA