The British government is using an investigation into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane to block an inquiry into the controversial killing, it was claimed last night.
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams made the claim during a meeting in London with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens last night.
Sir John has been investigating the killing of Mr Finucane and allegations of security force collusion in other killings by loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Mr Finucane was gunned down in front of his family in his north Belfast home by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in February 1989.
However it has been claimed that members of military intelligence agencies and the Royal Ulster Constabulary collaborated with the loyalist hit squad involved in the killing.
Retired Canadian judge Peter Cory last year recommended that a public inquiry should be held into the Finucane murder.
But the government has blocked an inquiry on the grounds that criminal proceedings arising out of the Stevens investigation are currently taking place.
Mr Adams said he had told the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that the Government was using his inquiry and court proceedings relating to it as excuses to obstruct a public inquiry.
"The institutional use of collusion for over 30 years has led to the deaths of hundreds of people, the maiming of thousands more and the terrorising of an entire community," the west Belfast MP said.
"The Pat Finucane case is at the heart of all of this. That is why the British system is so determined to block a public inquiry."