Collusion cover-up denied

Legal issues will delay an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane

The delay in holding a public inquiry into Pat Finucane's murder is not a "stalling exercise", the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, has said.

The government confirmed on Thursday that inquiries into three other murders which involved allegations of security force collusion would be held.

Mr Murphy denied the government was involved in a cover-up of allegations of collusion.

He said inquiries into the murders of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright would be held as soon as possible.

However, legal proceedings are set to delay the Finucane case.

A question of collusion?

Mr Finucane was shot by members of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association at his north Belfast home in 1989.

His widow Geraldine accused the government of using delaying tactics.

"This is a very disappointing, but expected statement," she said.

"The British Government continue to cover up the truth about the death of my husband with their delaying tactics."

The human rights organisation Amnesty International described the government's failure to establish an immediate public inquiry into Mr Finucane's murder as "shameful".

Mr Murphy defended the government's decision to edit the Cory report.

"No it isn't a cover up, but obviously Judge Cory's views are not necessarily going to be the same as those who deal with national security in our country," he said.

"It is important that we protect that. We know from recent events how important national security is."

Mr Murphy announced the inquiries in parliament on Thursday, to coincide with publication of the reports by retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory.

He has examined claims of security force collusion in the killings.

Rosemary Nelson, also a solicitor, was killed in an under-car booby-trap bomb explosion in Lurgan in 1999.

The LVF leader, Billy Wright, was targeted and murdered inside the Maze Prison by jailed members of the Irish National Liberation Army in 1997.

Robert Hamill, a Catholic, died in hospital after being attacked by a loyalist mob in his home town of Portadown in 1997.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Pat Finucane: no announcement on any inquiry until the ongoing murder trial is concluded Billy Wright: inquiry to start as soon as possible Rosemary Nelson: police investigation is continuing but public inquiry would not prejudice this - inquiry to start as soon as possible Robert Hamill: inquiry to start as soon as possible Reaction to Cory's reports

A man has been charged with the Finucane murder and he is due to go on trial in September.

On Thursday, Mr Murphy said Cory's reports raised matters that would cause "serious concern".

"The inquiries which I am announcing will have the full powers of the High Court to compel witnesses and papers. These are the same powers as inquiries set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921, under which the Bloody Sunday Inquiry is operating."

Mr Murphy said that the Nelson inquiry would examine the actions of the police and the Northern Ireland Office.

He later told the BBC that he would look at the wider issue of truth and justice in murders over the past 30 years.

The family of Rosemary Nelson said in a statement that she might be alive today if she had been treated with the "respect and dignity her professional position deserved".

Diane Hamill, sister of Robert Hamill, said her family was pleased the government would act on Judge Cory's recommendation.

The family of the late Billy Wright has welcomed Judge Cory's recommendations.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "It is important that we do try in Northern Ireland to move beyond the past.

"I don't know whether necessarily a truth and reconciliation commission is the right way to do it, but there needs to be some way of trying to both allow people to express their grief, their pain and indeed their anger in respect of what has happened in Northern Ireland without the past continually dominating the present and the future."

Last October, Judge Cory delivered six reports to the London and Dublin administrations about a total of eight killings on both sides of the border.

The retired Canadian judge was appointed by the British and Irish Governments in 2001.