No charges over Finucane murder

The Public Prosecution Service has decided not to charge any police officers in connection with the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, it has been revealed.

Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his home when he was eating a family meal with his wife Geraldine and three children on February 1998.

Two masked Ulster Defence Association (UDA) gunmen broke down the door of his north Belfast house and once inside, shot him 14 times before making off in a stolen taxi.

Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said that while a range of offences, including murder had been considered against a number of individuals, there was not enough evidence to bring charges.

The decision means senior RUC officers and military intelligence will not stand trial for any alleged involvement in the 39-year-old lawyer's murder.

Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey said: “This is an absolute scandal that no action is being taken.

“People are being told that while the state was involved in the murders of their loved ones, no prosecution will be taken.”

SDLP’s Alban Maguinness also described the PPS’ decision as “outrageous” and “the mother of all cover-ups”.

A four-year inquiry by former Metropolitan police commissioner Lord Stevens claimed informants and agents were allowed to operate without effective control and to participate in terrorist crimes.

However, the PPS Assistant Director Pamela Atchison said: "Some of the difficulties included an absence of particular records, potential witnesses who had since died and the inability in certain instances to identify the role and responsibilities that individuals played in specific events.

"In addition, the prosecution had to take account of potential abuse of process arguments by the defence that any trial at this stage would be unfair."

Lord Stevens said the killing could have been prevented and found members of the security forces had colluded in the murder.

Three top UDA men who were working for the intelligence services had also been under investigation. Brian Nelson had supplied information to the Force Research Unit, Ken Barrett later admitted shooting Mr Finucane and William Stobie was an RUC informer shot dead by loyalists when they feared he would testify against them.

(JM/KMcA)