Former British Army double agent and senior member of the Ulster Defence Association Mr Brian Nelson will not face charges in connection with the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, it emerged tonight.
After being questioned about the shooting by detectives involved in a major inquiry headed by the Metropolitan Commissioner Mr John Stevens, Mr Nelson was informed he will not have to stand trial.
As relatives of Mr Finucane prepared for meetings in Washington tomorrow in the latest stage of a campaign for a judicial inquiry into the killing, an associate of Mr Nelson said: "He is very relieved this matter has been put to rest."
Mr Finucane was shot dead by loyalist gunmen in front of his wife and children at his home in north Belfast in February l989.
The lawyer was gunned down even though the security services in Northern Ireland had been warned by Mr Nelson earlier that UDA gunmen were planning an assassination.
Mr Nelson, a former soldier, was later jailed for 10 years for a series of charges, including conspiracy to murder and having information which could be useful to terrorists. Charges of murdering two Catholics were withdrawn.
Ex-UDA man Mr William Stobie from Belfast, a former police special branch agent charged with aiding and abetting in the Finucane murder, is expected to stand trial in Belfast later this year.
The investigation which started in April l999 is still continuing.
PA