Judge Peter Cory presents his recommendations in the cases of six controversial murders to the British and Irish governments today amid calls for early action by rights activists and nationalist politicians.
However, publication before December is unlikely if a Stormont election is called, according to sources in Belfast and Dublin.
The retired Canadian supreme court judge has finalised his reports on the murders of Lord Justice and Lady Gibson and on the murders of two senior RUC officers, Supt Bob Buchanan and Insp Harry Breen, which will be forwarded to the Government by the judge this evening.
His findings in relation to the murder of Mr Pat Finucane, Mrs Rosemary Nelson, Mr Robert Hamill, and Billy Wright will be given to the Northern Secretary, Mr Murphy, in London this morning.
Both governments have said they will abide by the recommendations. Under terms agreed at Weston Park in August 2001, the judge has free reign to propose action in each of the cases, up to and including a full, independent and judicial inquiry as demanded by family and campaigners in the case of Mr Pat Finucane.
Some observers contacted by The Irish Times last night, expect judicial inquiries to be called in the Finucane case, perhaps in the Nelson case and the cases of the murdered RUC officers in south Armagh.
However The Irish Times understands that Judge Cory has kept his conclusions confidential. His reports have been filed with the Canadian High Commissioner in London as they were individually completed.
They will be handed over at a politically sensitive time in Northern Ireland with just days left to finalise an agreement between the parties and the two governments which could facilitate a November Assembly election.
A reliable Dublin source said publication during a campaign was unlikely. Another official said the reports would be closely studied to see if they cut across pending criminal investigations.
"There is an issue about whether some elements of the reports could impinge on existing, or proposed prosecutions. We would not want to prejudice such actions." Human rights organisations are already pressing for early and full publication of the judge's reports. However a British source has indicated to The Irish Times that the release of Judge Cory's findings is unlikely before mid-December.
This is too late, according to a spokesman for the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) which, along with Amnesty International, British-Irish Rights Watch and Human Rights Watch, wants earlier publication and action.