Ireland

Fresh pressure over British refusal to publish Cory

The Government will face fresh demands today to increase pressure the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to publish the Cory…

Tue Jan 27 2004 - 00:00

The Government will face fresh demands today to increase pressure the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to publish the Cory reports into four controversial killings in the North.

The leader of the SDLP, Mr Mark Durkan is today expected to urge the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, to pressure the British government to release reports compiled by retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory into four controversial murders during the troubles.

The Government has released two reports delivered last year by Judge Cory on controversial killings in the Republic. An enquiry into one of the cases is planned - the double murder by the IRA of Chief  Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan in County Armagh.

The SDLP and Sinn Féin, as well as human rights organisations, have been extremely critical of the British government for failing to produce their full report from Judge Cory.

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These deal with:

  • The shooting of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in his North Belfast home in February 1989 by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters amid allegations of security force collusion in his death.
  • Allegations that members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary failed tointervene when a loyalist mob kicked and stamped on Catholic father-of-twoRobert Hamill in Portadown town centre in April 1987.
  • The suspicious circumstances surrounding the killing of Loyalist VolunteerForce leader Billy Wright by the Irish National Liberation Army in a prison vanin the high security Maze Jail in December 1997.
  • The murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson who was blown up by a bomb placedunder her car near her Lurgan home in March 1999 amid allegations of RUC threatsmade to her through her clients.

Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, has in recent weeks told British MPs that the four reports will only be published once the British government is satisfied that all security and legal implications have been considered.

The family of Pat Finucane last week won permission for a judicial review of the British decision to withhold the reports by the Belfast High Court.

Earlier this month, Judge Cory contacted the Finucane, Hamill, Wright and Nelson families to inform them that he had recommended enquiries in each case.