SDLP calls for Blair to publish Cory report

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is under renewed pressure to publish potentially damaging reports into alleged police and army…

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is under renewed pressure to publish potentially damaging reports into alleged police and army collusion in terrorist killings in Northern Ireland.

The government has yet to reveal the contents of retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory's examination of four controversial loyalist paramilitary murders.

But his findings in two other cases where security forces in the Republic allegedly helped the IRA are expected to be released by the end of the week.

As an SDLP delegation prepared for talks with Mr Blair at Downing Street tomorrow, party chairman Mr Alex Attwood insisted the British must follow suit.

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He said: "Any delay or doubt over the Cory report is the responsibility of Tony Blair. Whatever elements in the army, MI5 or the police may be up to, it is up to Tony Blair to honour the commitments he and his government made at the setting up of Cory."

Both the Irish and British governments have pledged to hold public inquiries into any of the six killings if recommended in the reports.

Irish Government sources say dossiers on the IRA murders of Lord Justice Gibson and his wife in 1987 and Royal Ulster Constabulary officers Bob Buchanan and Harry Breen in 1989 could be published on Thursday.

But despite Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy declaring last month that the four reports given to the British would be disclosed as soon as possible, a release date has yet to be set.

Judge Cory investigated the assassination of lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, the shooting of loyalist terror chief Billy Wright inside the Maze Prison, and the mob beating of Catholic man Robert Hamill.