The deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process moved a step closer to being broken yesterday with the announcement of an inquiry into the 1989 murder of Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane.

Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy made the move to investigate allegations of security service collusion, as cross-party talks continued in Belfast.

The timing of the announcement was not thought to be a coincidence as Murphy seeks to cajole republicans into giving up their arms.

But concern has been raised at the need for new legislation, which some suspect will mean key aspects of the investigation are kept private.