144 Europe and Central Asia Summary of Amnesty International’s Concerns in the Region, January – June 2007 the Force Research Unit (FRU), which had actively colluded with Loyalist paramilitaries in targeting people, including Patrick Finucane, for assassination. It found “collusion, the wilful failure to keep records, the absence of accountability, the withholding of intelligence and evidence, and the extreme of agents being involved in murder.” However, the full findings of the Stevens III investigation, like those of the two previous Stevens investigations, have never been made public. In 2003, the ECtHR ruled that “proceedings following the death of Patrick Finucane failed to provide a prompt and effective investigation into the allegations of collusion by security personnel”, and that there had therefore been a violation of Article 2 ECHR. In the information that the UK government provided to the Committee of Ministers during its latest examination of the case, the UK authorities contended that the Stevens III investigation had given full effect to the Court’s judgment in this case. They pointed to the fact that a number of files were submitted by the Stevens team to the Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland in April 2003, for them to consider whether any further prosecutions should be brought (see section below). They also reminded the Committee that the government had taken steps to initiate a new inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane, to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005. The UK government further contended that “in those cases in which Article 2 [ECHR] is engaged, the [Inquiries] Act is capable of being used to hold an inquiry that will discharge or contribute to the discharge of the state’s obligations under that article to provide an effective official investigation.” However, by the end of the period under review, the UK government had yet to establish any inquiry. AI continued to denounce the prospect of an inquiry into the Finucane case held under the Inquiries Act as a sham. Amnesty International Decision by the Northern Irish prosecuting authorities on Stevens III investigation material In June, shortly after the Committee of Ministers had adopted the above-mentioned interim resolution, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland (DPP) announced that no further prosecutions would be brought against any individual on the basis of the evidence uncovered by the Stevens III investigation. The announcement came following the review by the Northern Irish prosecuting authorities of the material submitted by the Stevens III investigation. AI condemned the DPP’s decision, and in particular, expressed concern that the announcement had been made after an unconscionable delay -- more than four years after receipt by the prosecuting authorities of many individual files from the Stevens III investigation (see AI Index: EUR 45/010/2007). Following the DPP’s decision the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated to AI: “We welcome the decision. Soldiers have been criticised for long enough and should be left to get on with their lives. The MoD has cooperated fully with the Stevens inquiries”. The Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Bertie Ahern, stated: It is disappointing that the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland has found there is insufficient evidence at this time for further prosecutions arising out of the third Stevens report on collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces…. The finding does not alter the need for an independent inquiry and to allay any other concerns surrounding this case …. It is the [Irish] Government’s view that the finding adds to the case for an independent inquiry. The PSNI told AI that it had noted “the statement released by the Public Prosecution Service. Some of the cases mentioned in the statement continue to AI Index: EUR 01/010/2007