Man due in court accused of murdering Pat Finucane
A man charged with the murder of Belfast-based human rights lawyer Pat Finucane was due in court today.
Kenneth Barrett, 40, is accused of killing Mr Finucane on February 12, 1989 and was appearing before Belfast magistrates.
The killing of the solicitor has remained one of the most controversial of the 30-year history of the troubles.
He was gunned down as he sat eating Sunday lunch with his family at his north Belfast home.
Unemployed Barrett was also charged with a number of other offences including the attempted murder of Thomas McCreery on January 17, 1991 and the attempted murder of Elizabeth McEvoy on January 17, 1991.
He is accused of membership of the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Freedom Fighters on or before May 29, 2003 contrary to Section 21 of the Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act 1978.
Barrett was also charged with the thefts of two SA80 rifles with sights, two empty magazines and two Browning pistols with two empty magazines on January 31, 1989 at the 7/10 Ulster Defence Regiment Armoury Malone Barracks in Belfast.
He is also accused of handling stolen goods including 11 9mm Browning pistols, two 7.62 light machine guns, two signal weapons, one .38 Smith and Wesson revolver, two air rifles and a quantity of ammunition on August 25, 1987.
Barrett was detained on Wednesday at an address in Sussex by members of the Stevens team supported by Sussex police and members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
A 45-year-old woman was questioned and later released pending further inquiries.
The inquiry team, led by Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens has been investigating alleged collusion between the security services and loyalist paramilitaries.
Last month it published a report confirming that “rogue elements” within the police and military helped loyalists to murder Catholics.
The inquiry which focused on the murders of Mr Finucane and Protestant student Adam Lambert in 1987, concluded that both murders could have been prevented.
Mr Finucane’s family have campaigned for an independent public inquiry into allegations that he was set up by elements of military intelligence.
