Stevens Confirms Security Force Collusion
in Finucane Case

Sir John Stevens, the Chief Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, today released a brief public summary of his report on collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in the 1989 murder of Belfast human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane. Stevens’ conclusions are hard-hitting and echo what we have been saying for many years (click here for full LCHR report).

“It is disturbing that it has taken so long to get to this point,” said Fiona Doherty, Senior Associate at the Lawyers Committee. “Over the last fourteen years, the UK government has continued to stall while critical evidence has disappeared and key witnesses have died. One such witness, William Stobie, was murdered after the government denied his repeated requests for protection.”

Among Stevens' conclusions are the following:

(1) The murder of Patrick Finucane could have been prevented, as both the Royal Ulster Constabulary (through its agent William Stobie) and British Army (through its agent Brian Nelson) had information about plans for the murder before it took place;

(2) Army agent Brian Nelson “contributed materially” to the murder of Patrick Finucane;

(3) The police investigation into Patrick Finucane’s killing should have resulted in the early arrests and detection of his killers; and

(4) His own investigations into collusion in Northern Ireland were obstructed by both the Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Now that one of its most senior police officers has confirmed that security force collusion was systematic in Northern Ireland, we call on the UK government to immediately establish a public inquiry into the case. The information Sir John Stevens released today is just the tip of the iceberg.

The investigation, known as Stevens III, has been on-going for four years. Over the last fourteen years, Stevens has led three separate investigations into security force collusion with loyalist paramilitaries in targeting Catholics in Northern Ireland - but the results of the first two investigations remain largely classified.

Click here to read Beyond Collusion, Lawyers Committee's report on the Finucane case

Click here for background information on Beyond Collusion

Printed versions of Beyond Collusion are available from our offices in New York and Washington, D.C.