In the case of lawyer Patrick Finucane, however, the government did not commit to hold an inquiry, promising to revisit the issue after the conclusion of prosecutions.

"Public inquiries in all of these cases are long overdue," said Michael Posner, Executive Director of Human Rights First. "While the government's decision to abide by its commitments in the three cases is a very positive development, the Finucane case should not be singled out for further delay."

In making its announcement, the government published reports by Judge Peter Cory into the murders of Nelson, Finucane, Billy Wright, and Robert Hamill, in which the judge recommended public inquiries in all four cases.

In regard to the Finucane case, Judge Cory found that: "If criminal prosecutions are to proceed the practical effect might be to delay the public inquiry for at least two years. The Finucane family will be devastated. A large part of the Northern Ireland community will be frustrated. Myths and misconceptions will proliferate and hopes of peace and understanding will be eroded. This may be one of the rare situations where a public inquiry will be of greater benefit to a community than prosecutions."Human Rights First shares Judge Cory's concern that there should be no further delay in conducting a public inquiry into the killing of Finucane.

The publication of the reports come more than five months after they were presented to the government by Judge Cory and a day after their release to the victims' families.

Judge Cory, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, was appointed by the British and Irish governments in May 2002 to investigate evidence of collusion in these four controversial cases from Northern Ireland and two from the Republic of Ireland. Human Rights First has long been campaigning for public inquiries in two of the cases-those of human rights lawyers Patrick Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. Both lawyers were known internationally for their work representing people arrested under Northern Ireland's emergency laws.

The UK government should begin constituting public inquiries immediately, consulting fully with the victims' families about their powers and scope.

The Cory reports document collusion with illegal paramilitary groups by members of the security forces, cover-ups, and many incidents of superiors "turning a blind eye" to unlawful activity by police officers in Northern Ireland. It is necessary to uncover the truth and acknowledge violations in these cases in order to create public confidence in the security service and the rule of law.

Patrick Finucane was killed on February 12, 1989, when masked gunmen broke into his Belfast home and shot him 14 times in front of his wife and three children. Although the Ulster Defense Association, a loyalist paramilitary group, claimed responsibility for the killing, strong evidence has emerged linking three separate UK intelligence agencies to the murder. Despite this, the UK has long resisted establishing a public inquiry into the case, and no-one has been successfully prosecuted for the killing.

Rosemary Nelson was killed on March 15, 1999, when a booby-trapped bomb exploded under her car in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Although a loyalist paramilitary group claimed responsibility for the murder, there are many questions about Ms. Nelson's death that remain unanswered. In the years leading up to the murder, she had been harassed, assaulted, and threatened by members of Northern Ireland's police force. Human Rights First, along with other human rights organizations and UN officials, had repeatedly warned the UK government that her life was in danger. We urged senior government officials to take steps to ensure her safety. Despite these efforts, the UK failed to take adequate steps to protect Ms. Nelson. No-one has been prosecuted for her murder.