A retired Canadian judge who recommended an inquiry into British Army and police involvement in the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, has launched another attack on the legislation used to set it up.
In a letter to the chairman of a US Congressional committee probing the 1989 murder by loyalists, Judge Peter Cory claimed Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy's Inquiries Bill would set up impossible terms for any international judge asked to chair it.
And it also emerged today he said he would advise other Canadian judges to reject any offer to chair the Finucane inquiry if the legislation was passed by MPs.
Judge Cory told the committee chairman, Congressman Chris Smith: "It seems to me that the proposed new Act would make a meaningful inquiry impossible. "The commissions would be working in an impossible situation. For example, the minister, the actions of whose ministry was to be reviewed by the public inquiry would have the authority to thwart the efforts of the inquiry at every step. It really creates an intolerable Alice in Wonderland situation.
Judge Cory was appointed by the British and Irish Governments in 2001 to examine the case for inquiries into six controversial murders, four in Northern Ireland and two relating to the Republic.
The Inquiries Bill, which is currently going through the British Parliament, gives ministers the power to decide if some hearings must be held behind closed doors.
The Northern Ireland Office believes the new Bill is needed because the inquiry will consider sensitive issues of national security which will have to be discussed behind closed doors.
Mr Finucane's family and human rights activists fear the legislation will be used to limit information to the public in future inquiries and not just those dealing with issues affecting the North.