The family of murdered Belfast solicitor, Mr Pat Finucane, have expressed "deep suspicion" following the announcement that the publication of a report into his killing has been delayed for the second time.
The report by Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, which was due to be released next month, is now expected to be published next spring. Sinn Féin accused the British government of "prevarication".
Sir John said yesterday further inquiries were needed into the murder. "It is important that these matters are pursued and I'm determined this report will be absolutely thorough. It would be wrong to deliver the findings of this complex investigation prematurely."
Sources said Sir John still has to interview Brig Gordon Kerr, now the British military attaché in Beijing, who was head of an undercover Force Research Unit at the time of the assassination.
The Stevens inquiry centres on allegations that elements of British military intelligence and RUC Special Branch colluded with loyalist paramilitaries in the murder. Mr Finucane, a high-profile Catholic solicitor, was shot by the UDA in front of his family in 1989.
Mr Fincuane's widow Geraldine said the latest development did not inspire confidence that the truth would be published. "I am confident Sir John Stevens wants to do a thorough job but I am afraid his report is being manipulated. They do not believe the time is right for it to be published because of the fall of the institutions. It is suspicious and raises more questions than answers."
Sinn Féin policing spokesman, Mr Gerry Kelly, said: "There are facts which are well known. Tommy Lyttle, who ordered the killing, was an RUC Special Branch agent. The self-confessed gunman, Ken Barrett, was an RUC Special Branch agent. The man who supplied the weapons, Billy Stobie, was an RUC Special Branch agent. The man who set it all up, Brian Nelson, was a British army agent."