Openness. Honesty. Compassion. The British government's reputation is at
stake and not just over Iraq and Dr David Kelly.
Alleged collusion between the State and our paramilitaries mightn't be as
big an international story but it's equally important.
By not publishing the Cory report and swiftly setting up public inquiries
into the Finucane, Wright, Hamill and Nelson murders, the government looks
like it's running scared.
Three months after receiving the dossier, it's still awaiting "legal
advice". Does Downing Street not have enough money for decent lawyers? Tony
and Cherie are both barristers. Couldn't they get some of their mates to
help out?
The government says it must tread carefully because of legal proceedings in
the Finucane and Hamill cases.
The Finucanes have long claimed the endless drip of single prosecutions is
deliberately designed to delay a public investigation. At this rate, Pat
Finucane's great-grandchildren will have qualified as lawyers and be on tv
demanding the inquiry.
The level of corruption down South is huge. It's a brown envelope state.
There has been no shortage of Garda and legal abuses. But at least Dublin
quickly announced an inquiry into alleged collusion in the killing of two
RUC officers.
By contacting the Finucanes, Wrights, Hamills and Nelsons directly, Peter
Cory has shown integrity and independence - qualities too often lacking in
our legal system.
The government obviously believed a 77-year-old retired judge with a
military background would be a "safe pair of hands". Thankfully, he has
proved not averse to rocking a few boats. That's one appointment the Prime
Minister must regret.
Mark Durkan is writing to the White House, urging it to use its influence
with Blair who "cannot be allowed to bury the truth". It's a bit like
asking Rio Ferdinand to lobby footballers on complying with drug tests.
Not that unionist politicians have been inspiring on Cory. They've welcomed
the recommendation to investigate Wright's death but have remained silent on
the three others.
They're completely correct on Wright. A series of "coincidences" leading up
to his murder - involving broken security cameras, absent prison officers,
and wandering visit lists - demand investigation.
But it's small-minded and sectarian to call for an inquiry for the LVF
leader's murder and not for two nationalist solicitors and a Catholic
civilian.
They might say that's because Wright was killed in jail. But who believes if
an IRA prisoner was shot dead, they would support a public inquiry into
that?
Unlike their political representatives, the Wright family has been more
magnanimous and backed an investigation into all the cases. Unionist
politicians have missed a vital opportunity - to show they're capable of far
more decency than Tony Blair.
