CORY REPORT

Early day motion 408, tabled 13 January 2004 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House notes that the bereaved families of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright have been contacted by Justice Peter Cory and informed that he has recommended a public inquiry into each of their four deaths; recalls that following the Weston Park Agreement in 2001, Judge Cory was appointed jointly by British and Irish governments to examine allegations of collusion in six deaths and to assess whether there was sufficient evidence in each case to merit a public inquiry; recalls the commitment of both governments to publish his findings and establish such inquiries upon their recommendation; notes that his reports were completed and submitted to the two governments in October 2003 and that Justice Cory had cleared sensitive information with the relevant security agency in each jurisdiction prior to completion; further notes that bereaved families appealed then for no undue delay in publication; further notes that the Irish Government sought a co-ordinated response with the British published Cory reports submitted to them in December; further notes that another month has passed without action; and urges the Government to publish the reports of Justice Cory in full without further delay and to fulfil its commitment to establish public judicial inquiries to address allegations of state collusion in these killings and, if proven, to draw lessons from each, to renounce a culture of impunity and to ensure that such abuses can never again undermine public confidence in the rule of law in any part of the United Kingdom.

Signatures by party: Labour 13, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 1.