A medical examination of the key witness in the case against a man charged over the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane is likely to determine whether the trial will go ahead, it was revealed today.
Former journalist Mr Neil Mulholland has indicated that on health grounds he will withdraw his evidence which is crucial to the prosecution of self-confessed former leading loyalist and Special Branch informer in the North, William Stobie.
If Mr Mulholland does withdraw, it is predicted the case could collapse and the charges be dropped.
Mr Stobie, a one-time quartermaster in the Ulster Defence Association, was charged two years ago by the special team headed by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, which was sent to Northern Ireland to investigate allegations of collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.
Mr Stevens charged Mr Stobie with aiding and abetting in the murder of Mr Finucane who was shot dead in front of his family in his north Belfast home on February 12th, 1989.
He was also charged with possession of the guns used in the killing.
Mr Stobie has admitted supplying the guns, but insisted he told his police handlers there was about to be an attack but that he did not know who the target was.
At Belfast Crown Court today, prosecutor Mr Gordon Kerr QC was granted an adjournment until May 18th.
Mr Kerr told Lord Justice McCollum that medical evidence relating to Mr Mulholland was needed and the medical witness was currently outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Granting the adjournment, Lord Justice McCollum said: "We really need to see the way forward clearly at that stage."
Mr Mulholland, now a Northern Ireland Office information officer, gave the Stevens inquiry information which led to the charges against Mr Stobie.
He was questioned about an interview with Mr Stobie in 1990 while he was working for a Sunday newspaper in Belfast.
PA