Government to face legal action over Cory report delays

The Finucane family are to take legal action over the delays in the publishing of the British portions of the Cory report into alleged collusion in a number of killings in Northern Ireland.

Canadian Judge Peter Cory was jointly appointed by the British and Irish governments to examine the circumstances and allegations of collusion in some of the most high-profile murders in the province's history.

In October last year, the retired judge submitted to the governments six reports on the eight killings he examined. One of the cases under examination is the 1989 murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Today, his son Michael said that the family would be petitioning for a judicial review at Belfast High Court in a bid to gain full access to the findings of the report. He said that Judge Cory had contacted him to say that he had recommended a public inquiry.

The British government has declined to publish Judge Cory's report, citing various pressing legal and human rights issues.

According to the Finucane family, Judge Cory contacted the families and/or legal teams of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright to inform them that he had recommended public inquiries in all four cases.

In an earlier statement, the Finucane family "welcomed the fact that Judge Cory had kept faith with the families in a situation where Prime Minister Tony Blair had failed to do so".

Mr Cory was appointed following the Weston Park Agreement in 2001 which committed the two governments to appointing a judge of international standing - from outside both jurisdictions - to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion in the cases.

Judge Cory's inquiry considered the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright.

Accepting the report in October 2003, NI Secretary of State Paul Murphy said: "The two governments are determined that where there are allegations of collusion the truth should emerge. We will consider the reports urgently and undertake to publish them as soon as possible, in line with the terms of reference."

(SP)