Pat Finucane: In search of the truth

"It's the system itself that needs to be examined"

One of the highest profile sectarian murders of the eighties was that of Pat Finucane. A catholic solicitor working in Belfast, he was gunned down in his own home in front of his family.

That family have followed the twists and turns of Sir John Stevens' inquiry, waiting for today's confirmation that elements within the police and army did help loyalists to kill.

Pat Finucane's son, Michael, was 17 when he saw his father murdered, he was live on Breakfast this morning.

Click here to see our interview with Michael Finucane

We don't believe that a police investigation will get to the bottom of this issue... this matter goes very much further into the establishment than the authority of a police officer would allow, and for that reason we don't believe that a police investigation is going to get to the root of the matter...

I have been convinced of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the British army and RUC special branch for many years... I believe the policy of collusion emanated from government and within the establishment in England.

The BBC's Northern Ireland Correspondent Denis Murray has learned that the British army, and some police officers in Northern Ireland deliberately helped loyalist paramilitary groups murder Catholics.

Confirmation will be made in a report by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, which he is due to make public today.

The report into alleged collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries has also found that military intelligence in Northern Ireland actually prolonged the Troubles.

It suggests one branch of military intelligence was out of control and its activities were disastrous.