A fresh judicial investigation into the murder of Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane is to be held in the New Year.
Announcing the move, the Northern Ireland Office said that a judge of international standing would be appointed to conduct an investigation into the murder, and others in which there have been allegations of security force collusion, no later than next April.
The announcement came following the collapse of the trial of William Stobie, who was charged with the killing 12 years ago, when the Crown agreed not to call the key prosecution witness because of his mental illness. Mr Stobie was accused of aiding and abetting two murders, including that of the Belfast solicitor, Pat Finucane.
The North's Lord Chief Justice, Robert Carswell, ordered that a verdict of not guilty be returned in the case after Counsel for the North's Director of Public Prosecutions informed the court that the main prosecution witness would not be giving evidence. The witness was withdrawn because of mental health concerns.
Michael Finucane, the son of the murdered lawyer said that his family had expected this outcome of the case. "Our position of not co-operating with the Stevens investigation has now been proven to be a correct one because it is simply that - a police investigation", Mr Finucane said.
The Dublin-based solicitor added, "Police investigations are designed to bring prosecutions and convict persons of crime. We have always argued that that is not appropriate and the courts have now shown that it is not possible". Mr Finucane's family has called for a full public inquiry.
The Sinn Féin President has called for a full public judicial inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane following the collapse of the case. Gerry Adams said this development was predictable.
He claimed that the British system, in particular the intelligence services, had used every available means to prevent the truth emerging around Mr Finucane's case and hundreds of other similar killings. He also criticised the way the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North had handled the case.
Alec Attwood MLA and SDLP spokesman on policing said that he was not surprised at the collapse of the Stobie case. He reiterated the SDLP call for a full judicial inquiry into the Finucane murder. He called for a judge to be appointed to review the Finucane case and other cases proposed by the government at Weston Park.
