Goldsmith probes Hain appointment

Mr Hain has said he would welcome a decision to hold an inquiry

The attorney general is to hold an investigation into whether Wales and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain deliberately misled the High Court.

A judge has ruled that Mr Hain acted "for an improper political purpose" in appointing Northern Ireland's first victim's commissioner.

The judge sent Lord Goldsmith questions to see whether Mr Hain or his officials perverted the course of justice.

Mr Hain says he acted for victims and denies being deliberately misleading.

Lord Goldsmith agreed earlier this week to Mr Justice Girvan's request to investigate whether Mr Hain deliberately misled the High Court during a judicial review into the appointment of the interim commissioner to speak up for the victims of Northern Ireland's troubles.

The judge sent Lord Goldsmith a list of 67 questions regarding the conduct of Mr Hain and his officials.

Now Lord Goldsmith has told the House of Lords that he will appoint an independent person to review the case and report to him.

'Duty of candour'

He said he hoped to make the report publicly available.

Lord Goldsmith is writing to senior civil servants to remind them of the "duty of candour" required during court cases.

Former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Trimble said it was "quite exceptional" for the judge to call for a high-level enquiry.

Earlier this month Mr Justice Girvan said the appointment of Mrs McDougall as commissioner was a politically motivated confidence-building gesture to unionists.

Mrs McDougall's policeman husband was murdered by the republican INLA.

Mr Justice Girvan ruled that the appointment was in breach of the law and of the ministerial code of practice.

The judge also found that the relevant government departments provided partial, misleading and incorrect information on the way the appointment was made.

Mr Hain has denied deliberately misleading the court and said "the big picture" was that he was acting for victims at all times.