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Cory defies British on report

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Judge Peter Cory’s patience with the British government ran out on Monday, and he personally informed all four families of his conclusions, defying the Northern Ireland Office and Ministry of Defense in London, which had stalled on publishing his findings.
The dramatic move was welcomed by the families of Pat Finucane, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright, whose murders Cory had investigated. His conclusions were presented to the British government three months ago, but have so far remained unpublished.
Cory said he was careful to write his reports so that they would not prejudice national security or the safety of any individual — but the British government is using this, and the potential risk to the human rights of potential defendants in the cases, as reason not to publish.
It was known that Cory was furious at the delay in publication and that he considered the British government’s reasons impugned his integrity and competence. On Monday, he finally lost patience and told the four families individually of his recommendations of a public inquiry in each case.
The four cases involve lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson — both allegedly killed by loyalists with connivance, encouragement and collusion of either or both the British army and police.
The remaining two cases are of Portadown Catholic father of two children, Robert Hamill, allegedly kicked to death within yards of a police patrol and of loyalist leader Billy Wright, shot dead by the INLA inside the top security Maze jail in 1997.
A Downing Street spokesperson said on Monday: “The prime minister has made it clear that we will publish the reports as soon as the legal position is complete.”
All the families welcomed Judge Cory’s personal actions. Lawyer Michael Finucane, son of Pat Finucane, who was murdered in front of his family by the UDA in 1989, said Judge Cory told him he was motivated in his actions primarily by reasons of humanity and fairness to the families.
“I got a call from Judge Cory out of the blue about 3:30 [p.m.],” Finucane said. “He said he had informed the Northern Ireland Office that he was going to make the families aware of the bottom line in his report because he felt it was the humane thing to do.”
Cory told the families of his recommendations but did not go into the detail of his report. Finucane said the British government’s stance on the report indicated that he could have little faith that it would order an independent and impartial inquiry.
Eighteen months ago, at the Weston Park talks in England, the British made a commitment to abide by the judge’s recommendations. Sinn Fein and the SDLP are demanding London abide by that commitment.
“I don’t think the concepts of independence and impartiality are compatible with how the British government does its business,” Finucane said. “I think the fact that Judge Cory felt compelled to contact us shows up the British government as being, at the very least, guilty of bad faith and, at worst, duplicity and lies.”
Finucane described Judge Cory as a man of “unquestionable integrity” but said he was concerned that if an inquiry were called the British government would attempt to restrict its remit.
In December, the Irish government accepted Cory’s recommendation for an independent inquiry into the deaths of senior RUC officers, Chief Supt. Harry Breen and Supt. Bob Buchanan, who drove into an IRA ambush close to the border following a meeting with gardai in Dundalk in the Republic in 1989.

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