Republican News · Thursday 24 October 2002

Stevens Report delayed again

The long awaited Stevens Inquiry report into the killing of Pat Finucane is to be delayed for a second time, it was announced on Wednesday. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Stevens said further enquiries were needed that would delay publication. The report, which had been due for publication in November, is now scheduled to be completed by next spring.

Reacting, Sinn Féin policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly said: "This is the second time that the Stevens Report into the killing of Pat Finucane is to be delayed. Are we going to be told in the New Year that it is to be delayed yet again?

"There are facts which are well known. Tommy Lyttle, who ordered the killing, was an RUC Special Branch agent. The self confessed gunman Ken Barrett was an RUC Special Branch agent. The man who supplied the weapons, Billy Stobie, was an RUC Special Branch agent, and the man who set it all up, Brian Nelson, was a British Army agent.

"The family of Pat Finucane have long campaigned for an end to the stalling and for the establishment of a fully independent judicial inquiry into his death. The British government should stop prevaricating and should establish an independent inquiry without any further delay."