Renewed calls for public inquiry on collusion

Pressure was building today for the Government to initiate a full public enquiry following the claims that British security forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries in the killings of Catholics.

The third Stevens Report, released yesterday, confirmed, amongst other things, that security forces did in fact collude with the UDA in the murder of high profile solicitor Pat Finucane in the late 1980's.

The Report's release brought about swift calls for a full inquiry by Northern Ireland's nationalist leaders.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "The SDLP has long believed that there was systematic collusion between the security forces and loyalist terrorists in the murder of Catholics, nationalists and republicans.

"The only way to get to the bottom of this is through a full judicial public enquiry."

Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, described the report as only a small piece of the overall collusion jigsaw. He added: "The limited publication of this Stevens Report is only the tip of the iceberg. It is by no means the end of the matter. Sinn Fein will continue to support the demands of the families for a full public judicial inquiry into the policy of collusion."

The Steven's Report is one of the largest ever internal investigations undertaken in the UK – resulting in 9,256 statements being taken, 10,391 documents recorded (totalling over one million pages) and 16,194 exhibits seized.

The inquiry has led to 144 arrests, and so far 94 people have been convicted. To date 57 separate reports have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (NI) for his direction.

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