Minister vows to publish all Finucane docs

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said that highly classified documents would be included in the published report of a government-ordered review into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Mr Finucane was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries at his Belfast home in 1989 and there have been allegations of security force collusion in his murder.

The Finucane family have long demanded a full independent inquiry into the killing but successive governments have refused to do so.

Prime Minister David Cameron accepted collusion took place and has apologised to the Finucane family.

But his refusal to hold a full public inquiry into the murder - instead ordering for the legal review - angered the high-profile solicitor's relatives, who subsequently launched a bid to challenge the decision in the courts.

There was further anger last month when Ms Villiers announced that the report would be vetted by security forces prior to publication.

The barrister who conducted the review Sir Desmond de Silva QC said the disclosure was being made to ensure public confidence.

He said: "The inclusion of a volume of normally highly classified documents is clearly an exceptional step for a review such as this to take.

"I decided that it was necessary to include these documents in view of the controversy surrounding this case and to ensure public confidence in my report."

Mr de Silva added: "In view of the history of delays in independent reviews or inquiries such as this, I am pleased to say that my report has been produced on time and on budget."

Ms Villiers said the report has not been by her or any other member of the government or officials, except the members of the checking team.

As with the publication of the report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry, she said she would give advance sight to interested parties, their legal representatives and some members of both houses of Parliament.

She said the £1.5 million review is due to be published the week of December 10.