Government obstructing Finucane public inquiry claims Adams

Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams has claimed that the British Government is using the Stevens Inquiry as an excuse to obstruct the establishment of a Public Inquiry into Pat Finucane’s death.

Mr Adams made the claim during an hour-long meeting with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens in London on Tuesday.

Following yesterday's first meeting between the two men, the West Belfast MP said: "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 terrorizing of an entire community.

"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.”

Sir John led an investigation into claims that Mr Finucane's murder was carried out by loyalists with assistant from British security forces.

In April, the British government confirmed that the retired Canadian judge Peter Cory had recommended a public inquiry into Mr Finucane's murder.

Mr Finucane was shot dead by the UDA at his home in Belfast in 1989. Shankill Road man, Ken Barrett was subsequently charged with his murder.

(MB)