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No security charges over Finucane | No security charges over Finucane |
(about 1 hour later) | |
No police or soldiers will be charged in connection with the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, the Public Prosecution Service has said. | No police or soldiers will be charged in connection with the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, the Public Prosecution Service has said. |
Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his home by loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Defence Association, in 1989. | Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his home by loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Defence Association, in 1989. |
The killing was one of the most controversial of the 30 years of the Troubles in NI because of allegations of security force collusion. | The killing was one of the most controversial of the 30 years of the Troubles in NI because of allegations of security force collusion. |
The PPS said insufficient evidence was "critical" in its decision. | The PPS said insufficient evidence was "critical" in its decision. |
Mr Finucane's son, Michael, said the decision was "extremely disappointing and in some cases very, very perplexing". | |
"I think the DPP has taken a very soft and very submissive approach to the manner in which prosecutions would be mounted," Mr Finucane said. | |
He said some of the reasons given for not proceeding did not make sense. | |
The "Stevens Three" report published in 2003 stated that rogue elements within the police and Army in Northern Ireland helped loyalist paramilitaries to murder Catholics in the late 1980s. | The "Stevens Three" report published in 2003 stated that rogue elements within the police and Army in Northern Ireland helped loyalist paramilitaries to murder Catholics in the late 1980s. |
However, in a statement on Monday, the Public Prosecution Service said no further prosecution would be brought against any individual. | However, in a statement on Monday, the Public Prosecution Service said no further prosecution would be brought against any individual. |
It said some of the difficulties in bringing charges included absence of records and the death of potential witnesses. | It said some of the difficulties in bringing charges included absence of records and the death of potential witnesses. |
William Stobie was shot dead after the case against him collapsed | William Stobie was shot dead after the case against him collapsed |
Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said: "This is an absolute scandal that no action is being taken. | Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said: "This is an absolute scandal that no action is being taken. |
"People are being told that while the state was involved in the murders of their loved ones, no prosecution will be taken." | "People are being told that while the state was involved in the murders of their loved ones, no prosecution will be taken." |
The SDLP's Alban Maginness said the PPS decision was "outrageous" and "the mother of all cover-ups". | The SDLP's Alban Maginness said the PPS decision was "outrageous" and "the mother of all cover-ups". |
He called on the incoming prime minister, Gordon Brown, to announce a fully independent inquiry into Mr Finucane's murder. | He called on the incoming prime minister, Gordon Brown, to announce a fully independent inquiry into Mr Finucane's murder. |
In 2004, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, announced that Mr Finucane's death would be the subject of a inquiry. | In 2004, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, announced that Mr Finucane's death would be the subject of a inquiry. |
Meanwhile, the PPS also confirmed information about weapons handed over to police by William Stobie, who admitted supplying guns used in Mr Finucane's killing. | Meanwhile, the PPS also confirmed information about weapons handed over to police by William Stobie, who admitted supplying guns used in Mr Finucane's killing. |
Bookmaker's massacre | Bookmaker's massacre |
It said weapons deactivated after Stobie, a former UDA quartermaster, gave them to his police handlers in 1989 were later used in loyalist killings. | It said weapons deactivated after Stobie, a former UDA quartermaster, gave them to his police handlers in 1989 were later used in loyalist killings. |
Investigators had examined the conduct of RUC officers and a civilian employee in relation to the possession and handling of five guns. | Investigators had examined the conduct of RUC officers and a civilian employee in relation to the possession and handling of five guns. |
The Stevens team uncovered evidence that two of the batch were either partially or fully deactivated before being handed back to Stobie. | The Stevens team uncovered evidence that two of the batch were either partially or fully deactivated before being handed back to Stobie. |
One of the guns, a Browning pistol, was later reactivated and used to kill Catholic man Aidan Wallace in west Belfast in 1991. | One of the guns, a Browning pistol, was later reactivated and used to kill Catholic man Aidan Wallace in west Belfast in 1991. |
Less than three months later, in south Belfast, the same weapon was used in the Sean Graham's bookmakers massacre, when UDA gunmen shot dead five people. | Less than three months later, in south Belfast, the same weapon was used in the Sean Graham's bookmakers massacre, when UDA gunmen shot dead five people. |
Stobie was shot dead outside his home in 2001 just weeks after the court case against him collapsed. | Stobie was shot dead outside his home in 2001 just weeks after the court case against him collapsed. |
Only one man has been convicted of killing Mr Finucane. | Only one man has been convicted of killing Mr Finucane. |
Ken Barratt, 44, was jailed for 22 years in 2004 but released from jail in May last year. He is understood to be living at a secret location in England. | Ken Barratt, 44, was jailed for 22 years in 2004 but released from jail in May last year. He is understood to be living at a secret location in England. |