Adams to raise Finucane case with Blair

The Sinn Féin President is to raise the case of the murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in a meeting with the British Prime…

The Sinn Féin President is to raise the case of the murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in a meeting with the British Prime Minister in London tomorrow.

Mr Gerry Adams said he had asked for a private meeting with Mr Tony Blair some time ago in order to discuss the case of the murdered Belfast solicitor and alleged collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.

But he added that following this week's speculation about the content of the IMC report he spoke to Downing Street "stressing the urgency of that meeting."

He said he "rejected" and "greatly resented" what he said was an effort by both Irish and British governments to penalise and discriminate against Sinn Féin.

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" I should also say that it is my clear understanding that the cancellation of the Lancaster House talks for next week was an the request of the Irish government. Can I also say that the SDLP's defence of the IMC is disgraceful. As are that party leadership's assurances to Mr. Blair that Tuesday's publication of the report 'had the potential to be a good day for the peace process."

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Mr Gerry Kelly, said it was a disgrace that the British government were forcing the Finucane family through the courts once again because of what he said was their "continuing failure to hold an inquiry into the murder".

He said: "The British government are desperate to conceal the involvement of their own system, former ministers and senior PSNI personnel in a campaign of state sponsored murder. That is the rational for the stalling."