A United Nations special rapporteur said that he believes RUC involvement in the Rosemary Nelson murder enquiry should be kept to the very minimum. Dato Param Cumaraswamy of Malaysia is in Geneva, where he is presented a report into alleged death threats against defence lawyers by members of the RUC to the UN Human Rights Commission. Speaking on the BBC, he said that there was a nagging feeling that firm RUC involvement could taint the credibility and impartiality of the investigations.
The RUC's handling of allegations of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and its attitude to defence lawyers is criticised by the report. The special rapporteur has accused the RUC of complete indifference to allegations of harassment and intimidation of lawyers.
He has also claimed that there is prima facie evidence of security force collusion in the killing of solicitor Pat Finucane and repeats calls for a full enquiry into the shooting. Malaysian lawyer Param Cumaraswamy reported to the UN Human Rights Commission last year on allegations of intimidation and harassment of defence lawyers in the North. He also looked into the circumstances of the killing by the UFF of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane ten years ago.
He called for an independent enquiry into allegations that the RUC or military had colluded with loyalist paramilitaries. The British government said that there was no new evidence to justify a fresh investigation. However, in his follow-up report to be presented in Geneva this afternoon the special rapporteur says that there is at least prima facie evidence of such collusion, based on material presented to him.
His report was written before the killing of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson last month. It also criticises the RUC for failing to take note of complaints that defence lawyers had been harassed and intimidated by the police. It says that the force showed complete indifference to the allegations contained in reports by non-governmental groups. Mr. Cumaraswamy also accuses the Chief Constable of failing to call defence lawyers for a meeting and allowing the situation to deteriorate. The RUC has yet to respond to the report.
