Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he has always believed that there was collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in the planning of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane's murder.
Mr Ahern made the claim in response to Dáil questions this afternoon, when he was pressed on the hold-up into a full public inquiry in the circumstances surrounding the death of the human right's lawyer in 1989.
Bertie Ahern: believes security forces and loyalist paramilitarie colluded
Mr Ahern said: "I have always believed there was collusion in the case of Pat Finucane."
Mr Ahern added that if the day came when headlines declared that there was collusion, nobody would be surprised. The question, he said, was how deep the collusion ran.
"We would find it interesting to know what the level of the collusion was, how high it went up and how it operated. But the headline, nobody would be surprised with."
The Taoiseach added when pressed by Independent TD Tony Gregory to "end the cap in hand approach" to demanding a public inquiry from the British, that an internal British inquiry which would restrict the publication of a judge's findings is of "no use".
However, he added that London is "under a lot of pressure" and has indicated that it wished to proceed with an internal investigation.
Mr Ahern added that he told Mr Blair in Washington last week that without the agreement of the parties in the Oireachtas, human rights groups and all those involved in the Finucane case, such a situation would not be acceptable.
Mr Ahern said the British intention to press ahead despite nationalist concerns shared by the Government was confirmed to him by the Northern Secretary Peter Hain last week.
"I am told they have a venue for the autumn. They are also seeking a judge. I understand from international connections that they are having great difficulty getting a judge.
"The legal world has been quite active in putting out reasons a judge should not take up the position. I have been trying to help in doing that too. That is the position.
The Finucane family fear crucial evidence may be withheld on the grounds of national security under the Inquiries Bill.
"It will take five years to do it and it will cost €50 million, nobody will ever believe it, at least none of the people we must try to represent," Mr Ahern said.
"Perhaps some people in the United Kingdom will believe it, although I have my doubts about that too, especially where the legal profession is concerned."
