The British security services are refusing to hand over papers that would establish if they were involved in or knew in advance about the killing in 1989 of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.
Mr Ahern voiced frustration that the British have not become more willing to co-operate since prime minister Gordon Brown replaced Tony Blair.
Asked in the Dáil by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny if he believed that a British file existed about the killing, Mr Ahern replied: "I am glad to give my verdict on that, although everybody might not agree with it. I believe a file exists on the Finucane murder."
Mr Ahern brought up his demand that the British hold a full public inquiry into the case privately nearly a fortnight ago in talks with Mr Brown.
Today, the Taoiseach will meet retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who recommended that a full public inquiry should be held into the killing of the Belfast solicitor after he investigated the murder from 2001 onwards. However, the British have so far refused to accept the Cory recommendation, offering, instead, a private investigation whose remit can be limited by ministerial diktat on national security grounds.
Irish officials have maintained close contacts with Mr Finucane's widow, Geraldine, and other family members, who have consistently pushed for a public probe.
"We are putting all our efforts into helping the Finucane family by exerting the maximum pressure on the British government and the British system," Mr Ahern said. "As of now, I do not get any sense from the British authorities that they are willing to meet the Finucane family's needs."
Mr Ahern said he believed that the British government had given over all files that it held about the Finucane killing, but that senior figures in the British security services had refused to share their information.
"Most of the departmental records, as we know them, and other records have been given. What have not been, and are unlikely to be, given are the files - if any - in the possession of MI5 and MI6, which have a strange system, to say the least.
" I have dealt with many ministers and secretaries of state regarding how that system operates but I came across a number of Chinese walls. I do not believe we will obtain a great deal from these sources."
He went on: "I have informed the British on many occasions that I do not believe anyone would be shocked by what might emerge from a report on the murder of Pat Finucane. No one would be shocked because we all know what happened."
Mr Finucane, who had represented IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and other senior IRA figures, was murdered in front of his wife and children at their Belfast home by Protestant paramilitaries on February 12th, 1989.
The Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed that they had killed him because he was a high-ranking officer in the IRA, although this was strongly denied by his family.
