A British government-sanctioned inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane was criticised tonight by the solicitor’s family after it emerged it would mostly be held in private.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy gave the inquiry the go-ahead, insisting it would be independent.
But because the probe would deal with sensitive matters of national security, he said much of it would be held in private.
Mr Finucane’s son Michael claimed it appeared, contrary to Mr Murphy’s claims, that the inquiry would be British government-controlled.
“Effectively what we are looking at is an inquiry which is going to be established by government, accountable to government but probably controlled and restricted by government.
“Until we get to ask the Prime Minister some questions about what exactly his government proposes to do, we can’t endorse or agree to co-operate with any form of inquiry.
“We simply do not know what form of inquiry this is.”