Supporters of the Rosemary Nelson Campaign observed a minute's silence yesterday during a vigil outside Belfast City Hall to mark the first anniversary of the solicitor's death and to renew calls for a public independent inquiry into her killing.
At 12.40 p.m., the exact time the loyalist booby-trap device exploded under Ms Nelson's car, the group of around 70 fell silent in her memory. A huge banner read: "Mr Blair, if you can't protect defenders how can you protect human rights?"
Ms Padraigin Drinan, who has taken over from Ms Nelson as solicitor for the nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, read from a letter addressed to the British Prime Minister and signed by Ms Nelson's husband, Paul, her parents and wider family.
The letter called on Mr Blair to take "direct responsibility" for the delivery of truth and justice in the case, which is surrounded by allegations of RUC collusion. A former member of the Royal Irish Regiment continues to be questioned by the detective team headed by Mr Colin Port. He may soon be released if no charges are brought.
Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, spokesman for the Garvaghy road residents, said that on a personal level he felt "deep hurt" because he had known Ms Nelson for most of his life.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau, Mr Brice Dickson, yesterday called for an independent inquiry. "It appears likely at this stage that only an independent inquiry will uncover the evidence which will reveal the truth about Rosemary's Nelson's murder," he said.
Mr Dickson highlighted the debt owed to Ms Nelson for her work in representing some unpopular cases with "integrity and objectivity".
The anti-agreement unionist, Mr Paddy Roche, of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party, called for Mr Dickson's resignation as a result of the comments.
Ms Brid Rodgers, of the SDLP, also called for an independent inquiry and said the British government could not continue to ignore the "overwhelming case" made for such action.