Judge asked to examine murders

Judge will examine murder of Pat Finucane at his home

Retired Canadian judge Peter Cory has been asked to examine the circumstances surrounding six controversial murders carried out during Northern Ireland's Troubles.

The British and Irish governments agreed last year to appoint an international judge to consider cases in which there have been allegations of collusion between paramilitaries and either the British or Irish security forces.

The judge has been asked to decide whether there should be public inquiries into any of the deaths.

They include the murders of solicitor Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson.

Justice Peter deCarteret Cory: Asked to carry out examinations

Mr Finucane, a high-profile Catholic solicitor, was shot dead by the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in front of his family at his Belfast home in 1989.

Rosemary Nelson, a mother of three, died in a booby-trap car bomb attack at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh in 1999.

The Loyalist Volunteer Force was linked to the murder, but denied this.

She had reported shortly before her death that she had received threats from police officers.

The judge will also be asked to examine the case of the murder of the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright inside Northern Ireland's high-security Maze prison by the republican paramilitary Irish National Liberation Army in 1997.

Pat Finucane: Allegations of collusion surround murder

The family of Pat Finucane have particularly been pushing the two governments to appoint the judge because they want an inquiry into allegations the security forces were warned he was going to be targeted.

Judge Peter Cory retired from Canada's Supreme Court three years ago.

Although his appointment is still to be officially confirmed, Judge Cory's office says he is giving the approach positive consideration.