A Belfast judge has adjourned the hearing concerning notes of interviews the Sunday Tribune's northern editor, Ed Moloney, had with William Stobie, the man accused of murdering the solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989. The judge, Anthony Hart, said that he would make a decision before the end of the week. He earlier refused to stop an application to make Mr. Moloney hand over the notes. The Crown solicitor argued that the notes would be useful to the Steven's inquiry, which is investigating Mr. Finucane's murder. The judge also ruled that Mr. Moloney and his lawyers were not entitled to see material held by the Steven's inquiry into the murder; he said it could prejudice investigations
Mr. Moloney could be jailed or fined if he continues to refuse the order to hand over the notes. He has said that, for a journalist to obey, it would be to cross the line between news reporting and gathering evidence for the police.
