The UN rapporteur who has been examining the investigation of the 1989 murder of the Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane says the Northern Secretary has not "closed the door " on the possibility of a judicial inquiry. Param Cumaraswamy was speaking in London this morning after a half hour meeting with Mo Mowlam.
He said the Northern Secretary's response to his report was "cordial" but that no decision would be taken on a judicial inquiry until a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions, and other new material, had been received by the Northern Ireland Office. Mr Cumaraswamy said there was a strong case for a judicial inquiry where witnesses could be compelled to appear and evidence could be taken under oath. He added that Mo Mowlam was "leaving all the options open".
Mr Cumaraswamy said he had also discussed the RUC's role in the Rosemary Nelson investigation. He said that while the United Nations wanted to see that the investigation was perceived as credible and impartial he thought that "some RUC involvement may be necessary". He added " it's difficult for outsiders to come and investigate something without local input", however the "outside expertise" seemed to be in control of the situation. He said the UN wanted to avoid in the Nelson inquiry the sort of doubts that had been raised in the Finucane case. Mr Cumaraswamy said that he believed the RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, was doing his best to give the Nelson inquiry "credibility and impartiality".
