Irish Republican News · February 23, 2004

Stevens urged to end Finucane murder probe

The widow of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane's widow urged British police chief John Stevens to halt his inquiry into the killing.

During their first face-to-face meeting, Mr Finucane`s family insisted they will not settle for anything other than a public inquiry into the 1989 shooting which is at the centre of allegations that British Crown forces colluded with loyalist death-squads.

Stevens has been investigating the 1989 assassination of the lawyer in front of his wife Geraldine and their children at their north Belfast home.

But after talks with him today, Mrs Finucane insisted: "We did not meet with him to offer our co-operation.

"We met with him to ask that he wind up his investigation and hand over his files to the public inquiry which the British Government is now obliged to establish."

The family, human rights campaigners and nationalist politicians have for years campaigned for the full truth behind British collussion to be revealed.

Last year Stevens revealed that he suspected collusion had taken place in Mr Finucane's murder.

The killing has also been examined by retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory, whose report last year calling for a public inquiry in the case has never been published by the British government.

The Finucane family have accused the British government of reneging on a commitment after the Weston Park talks to publish and fully implement Judge Cory's findings.

The Finucane family has begun legal proceedings against the British government to force them to publish Cory's report. Last month thet were granted permission in the High Court in Belfast to seek a judicial review of the decision not to publish the report.

In Belfast today, Stevens hinted he had questioned Stakeknife, the reputed top British mole inside the IRA: When asked if he had met him, Stevens replied: "It could well be the case."

The agent or agents known as Stakeknife (or Steak-Knife) have never been officially identified. West Belfast man Freddie Scappatticci has strongly denied being the agent in question.

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