A British government inquiry into the killing of murdered Co Armagh solicitor Rosemary Nelson heard opening statements in Craigavon this morning.
The inquiry comes on foot of a recommendation by Canadian judge Peter Cory, who investigated allegations of collusion between British government agencies and loyalist paramilitaries in the murder.
Canadian judge Peter Cory
The hearing into one of the most controversial killings during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland is expected to last at least a year.
Retired British High Court judge Sir Michael Morland is chairing the three-member panel examining claims that the security forces plotted with loyalist terrorists who murdered the lawyer in a car bomb attack at her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in March 1999.
Despite a six-year murder inquiry that saw detectives take more than 5,000
statements, no one has been charged with the killing.
In his opening statement, Sir Michael pledgedthe inquiry would be totally independent.
"Just as we are independent of Government, so we will resist any attempt to take over, or improperly influence, the Inquiry which may be made by any body, organisation or special interest group. We will not allow the inquiry to become a political tool."
The terms of reference of the inquiry were widened last month to examine whether the British army or British intelligence agencies were implicated in her killing.
Among Ms Nelson's clients were Garvaghy Road tenants who were trying to prevent an Orange Lodge parade passing through their community, a man charged with the murder of two RUC officers but later acquitted, and the family of Mr Robert Hamill, who was killed by a loyalist mob in Portadown.
According to Judge Cory, "there can be little doubt that it was the work of Rosemary Nelson as a solicitor which led to her murder".
In a 91-page report, he documents various death threats which were made against her during the last years of her life. As well as receiving anonymous telephone calls and letters, she was told by various clients that RUC officers had made her the target of abusive, insulting and demeaning remarks.
Judge Cory said it was for a public inquiry to determine whether or not RUC officers made threatening remarks about Ms Nelson.
"We wish to make it quite clear that we will treat the Northern Ireland Office in exactly the same way as we will treat the other organisations referred to in our terms of reference," he said .
The hearing has now been adjourned to allow its legal team to spend months preparing for the full public sessions when over 100 witnesses will be called. It is expected to get underway early next year.