Relatives of murdered Belfast solicitor Mr Pat Finucane today warned nationalist leaders against accepting a watered-down inquiry into the killing as part of any deal to secure their backing for new policing arrangements.
In a letter to British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, the family of the dead lawyer insisted they would accept nothing less than a full-scale public inquiry into the killing, along the lines of the Bloody Sunday tribunal under way in Derry.
The missive, also circulated to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, SDLP deputy leader Mr Séamus Mallon and Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams, said: "It would be unfortunate if the nationalist parties took the view that something less than what the families are seeking would be acceptable to their electorate."
It followed reports that the British Government was considering setting up inquiries with less wide-reaching powers into the killings of Mr Finucane in 1989, the murder of Lurgan solicitor Ms Rosemary Nelson two years ago and the death of Portadown Catholic Mr Robert Hamill in 1997 - if nationalists weighed in behind the new-look police force in Northern Ireland.
Mr Finucane was shot dead at his home in Belfast in a killing claimed by outlawed loyalist terror group the Ulster Freedom Fighters.
The letter to Mr Blair said there was "indisputable and overwhelming" evidence of the involvement of the State's own authorities in the murder, including British Intelligence and the RUC.
The Finucane family have refused to co-operate with the Stevens Inquiry and maintain the circumstances of the case demand a large-scale public hearing.
PA